Copyrights, the story goes, are necessary to encourage creativity and artistic productivity. Why copyrights should last for the life of the author plus 70 years is harder to explain, especially since the original copyright act in 1790 only gave copyrights for terms of 14 years. Meanwhile, corporations like Disney have been able to sway lawmakers to extend their copyrights for even longer.
The inflation of copyrights has little to do with any “creativity incentive” and it disregards the damage done to the public by delaying material from entering the public domain and allowing copyright owners to manipulate or suppress information rather than using their copyrights for any economic benefits. In our modern work-for-hire economy, moreover, copyrights have mostly become a tool for corporations to become the primary beneficiaries of artists' creative output, and even for individuals who retain their copyrights, the costs to enforce them are often so high that they essentially become exclusive rights in name only.
These trends in copyright inflation parallel the development of patent policies that have allowed monopolies over seeds and genetic screening tests, as well as the proliferation of patent trolling. In fact, copyright trolling has become a growing problem too, with parties purchasing copyrights solely to prevent information from being shared and to collect penalties in retaliation for unauthorized use. This doesn't just conflict with copyright’s supposed creativity incentive, it raises serious free speech problems.
To Learn More, Visit:Amy M Lavine
The inflation of copyrights has little to do with any “creativity incentive” and it disregards the damage done to the public by delaying material from entering the public domain and allowing copyright owners to manipulate or suppress information rather than using their copyrights for any economic benefits. In our modern work-for-hire economy, moreover, copyrights have mostly become a tool for corporations to become the primary beneficiaries of artists' creative output, and even for individuals who retain their copyrights, the costs to enforce them are often so high that they essentially become exclusive rights in name only.
These trends in copyright inflation parallel the development of patent policies that have allowed monopolies over seeds and genetic screening tests, as well as the proliferation of patent trolling. In fact, copyright trolling has become a growing problem too, with parties purchasing copyrights solely to prevent information from being shared and to collect penalties in retaliation for unauthorized use. This doesn't just conflict with copyright’s supposed creativity incentive, it raises serious free speech problems.
To Learn More, Visit:Amy M Lavine