Music/Works of Art Copyrighting

Don't know what is the right answer. These record companies did take the risks (recorded and promoted the albums). However, how long can they continue to keep a stranglehold on the music? I think copyright protection should only be extended to works that are currently produced and sold at least once every ten years. Otherwise, the record companies might just sit on recordings and hope to cash in on a future revival of interest in the artists' music. This cannot help the artist's popularity with new/younger listeners. Music needs to be readily available to continue to get new listeners.

Not sure what is the accurate definition of Public Domain. However, the way the US copyright holders keep trying to extend copyright protection for their stuff is shameful. In America, the copyright period is 95 years! In Europe, copyrights for music last 50 years before the works become Public Domain. Record companies are trying to convince Europe to go along with longer copyright periods.

Disney fought to get the US to extend the copyright laws. The Reason? Their copyright on Mickey Mouse was expiring. So they got another 45 years to gouge the public. Why don't they spend their energies on creating new and fresh icons? Why try to hold on to past glories? Has the creative drive dried up at Disney? Might not we have seen more Disney creativity if they knew they would lose the Mickey copyright in 50 years years?

My thoughts might go down a different path if I was a successful copyright holder. Can't really tell...however, I have not been one to dwell on the past. Face today was my motto. It doesn't matter what happened yesterday. Today is what counts. My choices today are really all that matter. My choices today create my tomorrows. So where does this leave me on the issue of copyrights? Focusing on the past (by fighting to lengthen copyrights) stymies current creative endeavers. Can I prove this? No, but I have just had a revelation. What I said here does not accurately reflect my actions for the past 10 years.

I have been recovering from a disabling accident. Recently, my focus switched to the future (this is another new POV for me). I gave up on trying to recover all my lost abilities. I accepted that they are gone (especially since I really don't clearly remember what those abilities were). Once my attention switched to the future, all kinds of possibilities opened up for me. Until that moment, I was so involved in recovery, there was no room for anything else. If I thought about the future, it was abstract and sometimes just filled with vague worries.

I no longer care about what I used to be or have. Is that why I feel like a new person has stepped into me?

Does this prove anything about my thoughts on copyrights? No. However, I don't believe my experience to be unique. If the record industry would stop trying to hoard their "goodies", they would create more goodies just by focusing their attention on the future.

Fred's Beta & VHS Collections

Based on the research just completed, it looks like Fred can do nothing with his tape collection except to watch them for his own enjoyment. The copyright period has been extended to 95 years. Apparently, he cannot sell, lend (??), or give away (???) his collection. Another ludicrous result is when he passes, his heirs theoretically can not even view the tapes without breaking the copyright laws!

I read an Op-Ed recently (wish I had kept it). It stated that Americans gave away many rights when the copyright laws were enacted. They gave away rights that had no value to them because no owned printing presses or recording studios. Therefore, Americans did not really examine the rights they were giving up. The author believes that we need to take another look at the copyright issues. Unfortunately, I do not remember the arguments too clearly. I'll go look for the Op-Ed tonight.