Copyright

[Donald Binks]

As I have been interested in the vagaries of copyright and have not been all that au fait with the situation in the United States, I came across this site recently which details the whole issue of copyright in that fair land.

I hope that it may prove of some interest to fellow Nitratevillians!

http://chart.copyrightdata.com/index.php#top" target="_blank

[JFK]

A useful, if depressing, site.
If I read the chart- and, less likely, did the math- correctly, a 1963 film- neither legally screened nor sold
since its year of release- could be public domain in 2058 (instead of 2018 under the old laws)

1950-1963..................
Copyrighted for 28 years from filing..................
eligible for renewal of 47 more years followed by extension of 20 years;
go to “Renewals” section to determine if the work is under copyright

Cheap Generic drugs, sort of the "public domain" versions of formerly patented drugs, can be legally produced
whenever a drug’s patent expires - a period usually no longer than 20-25 years.
This, even though Big Pharm claims some meds cost $100,000,000+ to develop, test, and market.

On the other hand, under current copyright law (see below), most of the songs off Bieber’s most recent CD may not be
public domain for another 125 years (assuming JB -he’ll be 20 in a week- lives out a normal lifespan).
I could've waited the 56 years under the old law, but now.....

Copyrighted 1964-1977....Copyrighted for 28 years from filing.....automatically renewed for 47 years; (go to “Renewals” section inasmuch as renewal-filing status may have ramifications on ownership)
Copyrighted 1978-1997....copyrighted by individual(s):....Copyrighted for life of creator plus 50 years thereafter copyright automatically extended 20 years (Sonny Bono Act, 1998)
Copyrighted 1978-1997....copyrighted by corporation:....Copyrighted for 75 years thereafter copyright automatically extended 20 years (Sonny Bono Act, 1998)
Copyrighted 1998-present....copyrighted by individual(s):....Copyrighted for life of creator plus 70 years thereafter
Copyrighted 1998-present....copyrighted by corporation:....Copyrighted for 95 years

[entredeuxguerres]

A useful, if depressing, site.

Admirable, the extended protection given to corporations over individuals. Walt Disney Corp. got their lobbying-money's worth.

[boblipton]

And in extension of this thread, here's an article from the New York Times about how the copyright on The Diary of Ann Frank has been extended forty years.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/14/books ... v=top-news" target="_blank

Bob

[Tommie Hicks]

The sickening aspect of Disney's political behavior during the last copyright hubub is the fact Disney has made their fortune on public domain entities.

[drednm]

To me it seems the logical approach to copyrights of old films is to apply them one film at a time. Buying libraries and applying copyrights by the year is a blanket approach that only ensures that large blocks of films will be kept from the public because of corporate mergers and arbitrary years dreamed up by politicians.

[Rick Lanham]

Someone once suggested that if the work (film, music, book) is not kept available to the public, the copyright should expire early.

Rick

[wich2]

"If you don't use it - you lose it!"

Too much common sense there, and too much fairness. Never become law.

[George O'Brien]

Well, there is a shred of good news: according to the NY Times, "The Little Prince" is now in public domain. Wouldn't it be nice if Spielberg, or someone else, adapted it for a film?. At least it might spare us from yet another of the never ending cinematic revampings of poor "Peter Pan".