What Could Have Been In the Public Domain Today, But Isn't

SgtChaireBourne writes "Many works published in 1955 would have entered the public domain this year. Duke University's Center for the Study of the Public Domain has an overview of the movies, books, songs and historical works that are kept out of the public domain by changes to copyright law since 1978. Instead of seeing these enter the public domain in 2012, we will have to wait until 2051 before being able to use these works without restriction."

Comments

Study of the Public Domain

[BeerCat]

So... is the Study of the Public Domain itself in the public domain (through Creative Commons licencing), or is it copyright too?

Sony Bono Copyright Restriction Act?

[assertation]

Eh, maybe he was working out repressed jealously that no one would ever want to use his work.

Re:Sony Bono Copyright Restriction Act?

[Anonymous Coward]

If I could turn back time...

Re:Brought to you by:

[Sponge Bath]

The Sonny Bono copyright extension act...

At least that "tree hugger" checked out before he could do more damage to global progress. To paraphrase the lyrics to "George of the Jungle", (bite my ass copyright thugs): "...look out for that tree!"

Re:I doubt it

[Yvan256]

That's alright, though. Hollywood and the rest are decreasing the quality of most of their works so fast that by 2051 nobody will even bother pirating their stuff anymore.

Re:Whilst here in the EU

[marcello_dl]

> James Joyce's works are now freely available to everyone

So even the expiring of copyrighted works has its drawbacks. Interesting.