Re: copyright expiration as a spur to creativity

On Fri, 28 Aug 1998, Joseph Liu <liu3[_at_]law.harvard.edu> wrote:
>
> Moreover, as Dan points out, even within the group of IP creators, there
> may be differing views. Authors who have already created their works
> will want more protection, whereas potential creators will want both
> protection for their own works and greater freedom to build off prior
> work.

The term of a commercial lease is of critical importance to a prospective tenant. Although some retailers, for instance, want short term seasonal kiosks in a mall, anyone who will invest in architecture and major promotion must have either a term sufficient to recover investments or ownership. Why would such dynamics not apply to copyright?

I don't see why a "potential" author or artist is unable or unwilling to obtain permission to quote when it is necessary to do so. The protection ultimately works in their favor!

> At some point, a long copyright term may work against the interests of
> both consumers and future authors. I don't know precisely what that
> point is, but my original point was that the question should not be
> left to solely to existing copyright owners.

Why would perpetual copyright deprive interested parties any more than ownership of real estate or personal property? I must accept that I am denied "access" to your property forever unless you are willing to loan, lease, or sell it.

Albert Henderson, Editor, PUBLISHING RESEARCH QUARTERLY <70244.1532[_at_]compuserve.com> Received on Tue Sep 01 1998 - 17:48:51 GMT