Copyright length?

[ByteMe]

With all this copyright talk... how long is it now? I know they recently extended it.. (USA).

 

[epicstruggle]

With all this copyright talk... how long is it now? I know they recently extended it.. (USA).

the real answer is that we dont know how long copyright's can last. Every time its about to expire, for some major company(disney,...) it will be lobbyed until it is extended. Dont be suprised if it is extended again in 20 years (might be 18 now).

just as a side note i believe right now the technical answer is 140 years. or something ridiculous like that.

later,
epic

 

[Mariner]

In the UK, it's 70 years (three-score and ten - very biblical!):

http://www.patent.gov.uk/copy/indetail/ownership.htm

 

[ByteMe]

I am trying to think of a "good" reason why in heck it would be more than 20 or so.

 

[epicstruggle]

I am trying to think of a "good" reason why in heck it would be more than 20 or so.

I cant think of one either. Unless making corporations stincking rich is good. Id rather have a 15 years on medicine(currently 20), 5 on anything internet related, or computer software/hardware related. and 10-20 years on anything related to entertainment (music, movies,...).

later,
epic

 

[ByteMe]

I am trying to think of a "good" reason why in heck it would be more than 20 or so.

I cant think of one either. Unless making corporations stincking rich is good. Id rather have a 15 years on medicine(currently 20), 5 on anything internet related, or computer software/hardware related. and 10-20 years on anything related to entertainment (music, movies,...).

later,
epic

5 years could be argued against because of "recouping" the investment. I wouldn't mind 15. I would accept 20 but any more seems insane. Patents are 20 I think.

 

[Xmas]

I am trying to think of a "good" reason why in heck it would be more than 20 or so.

I cant think of one either. Unless making corporations stincking rich is good. Id rather have a 15 years on medicine(currently 20), 5 on anything internet related, or computer software/hardware related. and 10-20 years on anything related to entertainment (music, movies,...).

later,
epic

Uhm, this is about copyright, not patents. Ideas are not protected by copyright.

I think it's reasonable that an author keeps (or may keep) all rights on her work throughout her lifetime.

 

[K.I.L.E.R]

What's the difference between a copyright and a patent?

Copyright = Deals with copying laws?

Patent = Makes sure no one but you can use the idea you patented?

 

[Xmas]

Copyright: the author of a work of the arts (writing, painting, music, movie, etc.) is automatically granted the exclusive right to use/copy/publish his or her work, with several exceptions.

Patent: the inventor of a method or idea can basically buy the right of exclusive implementation of his/her invention.

 

[Simon F]

Patent: the inventor of a method or idea can basically buy the right of exclusive implementation of his/her invention.

Just to follow on from this, patents were introduced because before then, individuals/companies would have to keep their practices secret to stop anybody just copying them. The problem was that this meant that technology didn't progress very rapidly because it was difficult to build on other's work (and there was the risk of secrets being lost).

The patent system was a way of getting people to publish their techniques yet not immediately lose their competitive advantage.

 

[ET]

AFAIK US copyright is currently life+70 for individuals and 90 for corporations.

IMO, if "abandonware" was just defined legally, all would be well.

 

[Xmas]

Well, in Germany something similar is defined legally... BUT only for photocopies and purely analog use.

 

[K.I.L.E.R]

AFAIK US copyright is currently life+70 for individuals and 90 for corporations.

IMO, if "abandonware" was just defined legally, all would be well.

You mean abandonware isn't real?

Who made it up and why is it spread all around the internet?

 

[epicstruggle]

AFAIK US copyright is currently life+70 for individuals and 90 for corporations.

IMO, if "abandonware" was just defined legally, all would be well.

But by specifying in the Constitution itself that copyright protection must apply only for "limited times," the Founding Fathers sought to strike a balance between private profit and the promotion of a vibrant public domain of ideas and creative works.

In 1790, "limited times" meant no more than 28 years. By 1976, Congress had increased copyright coverage to extend over the lifetime of the author plus an extra 50 years. And then in 1998, Congress extended copyright coverage again by 20 more years.

source:http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/1009/p02s01-usju.htm
The courts did rule in favor of allowing congress the power to extend copyright's lifetime.

Now can you honestly say that in 20 years Disney wont try to get the length extended again, and again, and again....

later,
epic

 

[ET]

You mean abandonware isn't real?

It's real, it's just not legal.

Who made it up and why is it spread all around the internet?

Well, pirated software is all over the place, too, only usually better hidden. A lot of abandonware is software from companies that are dead, and therefore in no position to sue. Developers don't mind having their old games out anyway. So I guess it's kind of sanctioned.

 

[Snyder]

Uhm, this is about copyright, not patents. Ideas are not protected by copyright.

It is not? I thought that's what copyright is all about? Protection of intellectual property?

I am really interested in this, because I am about to do a term paper (correct translation for "Seminararbeit"?) about software patents this semester and am gathering literature and information at the moment.
I have found a lot about it online (and not that much offline), but:
If anyone can point me to some literature about this topic (s.p., copyright etc...online and offline are welcome) I might have missed, I would be very grateful.

 

[ET]

It is not? I thought that's what copyright is all about? Protection of intellectual property?

As the name suggests, copyright is about the right to copy (or authorise to copy) a creation. It doesn't protect ideas, just works. It prevents people from copying something you've created without your pemission. So no, it doesn't protect intellectual property, in the sense of ideas, just the particular form of execution.

Regarding copyright, take a look at http://www.unesco.org/culture/laws/copyright/html_eng/page1.shtml and http://www.loc.gov/copyright/.

 

[nutball]

In the UK, it's 70 years (three-score and ten - very biblical!):

http://www.patent.gov.uk/copy/indetail/ownership.htm

I have read rumours that the UK is under pressure to "normalise" this anomalous situation, and fall into line with the US. I'm sure our Tony will bend over and submit.

 

[Xmas]

In the UK, it's 70 years (three-score and ten - very biblical!):

http://www.patent.gov.uk/copy/indetail/ownership.htm

I have read rumours that the UK is under pressure to "normalise" this anomalous situation, and fall into line with the US. I'm sure our Tony will bend over and submit.

According to epicstruggle's link it's the same in the US. Btw, it's the same in Germany, too, 70 years after the death of the author.

 

[ByteMe]

In the UK, it's 70 years (three-score and ten - very biblical!):

http://www.patent.gov.uk/copy/indetail/ownership.htm

I have read rumours that the UK is under pressure to "normalise" this anomalous situation, and fall into line with the US. I'm sure our Tony will bend over and submit.

A spot I hope the UK tells the USA to flock off and LOWER the number of years. How the hell do these laws get passed when the public mostly seem against them. I think I need to write my congressman.