Shortening Copyright After Eldred Loss

SataiCam writes "Marci Hamilton has an article over at Findlaw.com covering potential options for getting a shorter copyright after the Eldred loss (or, more likely, keep this one from growing again). Clearly such a movement is an uphill battle, Hamilton does nothing to argue against that, but the options are there. It's an interesting read with some good points and a tone of "if you want it, go out and fight for it." I don't necessarily agree with all she says, but that's not surprising, she is using an AOL e-mail address, after all."

Comments

Good Luck

[ResHippie]

I think I've been reading too much about this stuff lately, but I have a hard time believing that the US Government would do anything that so explicitly hurts corporations without providing overwhelming benefit to citizens. It's clear that privacy is important to people, but copyright isn't a huge deal in everyday life.

I guess I just don't have the energy to help reinstate a government "of the people, for the people, and by the people" because it would have to be done from without, not within. Don't allow politicians to accept donations from anyone/thing that doesn't have a right to vote. The barriers of entry to this system, like so many other things, prevent really new ideas from coming into it.

Re:Good Luck

[aaarrrgggh]

I have a hard time believing that the US Government would do anything that so explicitly hurts corporations without providing overwhelming benefit to citizens.

The whole point of the public domain isn't to make goods cheaper for the people, but to make those works which have become a part of our culture things that can be built upon by others.

In that way, it can actually offer more benefit to corporations... just not the huge conglomerates.

Jefferson's quote

[hackwrench]

"He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me." Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Issac McPherson

jefferson idea candle taper

AOL?

[wzm]

The submitter uses a hotmail address, and yet feels as though they can discount someones opinion by pointing out that they use AOL for email? Thats pretty lame, why not voice your disagreement by countering the authors points with your own.

Elitism sucks, especially when its directed from sources who don't have much room to talk.

Re:extensions and constitution

[k3v0]

unfortunately it is rather unlikely that the US would pass this amendment. The equal rights amendment http://www.equalrightsamendment.org/ hasnt even passed, and that only guarantees women equal rights. 50 percent of the population is women, and this still hasn't passed since the 70's. Rich folk like the *AA's would never let anything changing the copyright happen.

she is using an AOL address

[gmhowell]

Marci A. Hamilton is the Paul R. Verkuil Chair in Public Law at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. Her other columns on copyright and constitutional law can be found in the archive of her columns on this website. Her email is hamilton02@aol.com.

Well, it looks to me like she has a bit more authority on which to discuss legal issues than either the poster or timothy (whoever ended with the snide comment). Perhaps she travels, so got AOL. Perhaps she has many business contacts who have the address, so hasn't changed it.

In any event, her opinions on legal matters are more important than some random John Q. Dipshit such as yourself(ves).

Re:Content of the Amendment

[Ondo]

IMO, an amendment should prevent retroactive changing of copyright lengths. If the point of copyright is to give people an incentive to publish, lengthening the time period after it has been published has no benefit, and shortening it afterwards seems like going back on a promise. Neither should be allowed.

Re:You are part of the problem

[yerricde]

the icons of our culture (Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer IIRC, and certainly Micky Mouse et. al.) are all privatly owned, copyrighted material.

Really? Here's why Mickey Mouse may have fallen into the public domain, not through copyright expiration but rather through lack of proper notice when notice was required.

Politicians do ultimately listen to votes, not dollars, but as long as people like yourself remain inactive dollars will equal votes.

Voting for candidates doesn't work if neither major party candidate represents my views ("don't blame me; I voted for Browne"). So how do I get one or more of the congressional candidates in my area to adopt any of my pet issues as a plank?