Eternal Copyright: a Modest Proposal

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Eternal Copyright: a Modest Proposal

Posted by Soulskill on Monday February 20, 2012 @08:12AM from the just-a-matter-of-time dept.

New submitter SpockLogic writes "The Telegraphs has a tongue in cheek essay in praise of eternal copyright by the founder of an online games company. Quoting: 'Imagine you're a new parent at 30 years old and you've just published a bestselling new novel. Under the current system, if you lived to 70 years old and your descendants all had children at the age of 30, the copyright in your book – and thus the proceeds – would provide for your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. But what, I ask, about your great-great-great-grandchildren? What do they get? How can our laws be so heartless as to deny them the benefit of your hard work in the name of some do-gooding concept as the "public good," simply because they were born a mere century and a half after the book was written? After all, when you wrote your book, it sprung from your mind fully-formed, without requiring any inspiration from other creative works – you owe nothing at all to the public. And what would the public do with your book, even if they had it? Most likely, they'd just make it worse.'"

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Are you crazy?!? by AngryDeuce · 2012-02-20 08:14 · Score: 5, Funny

You call it sarcasm, they call it talking points. Stop giving them ideas, asshole!!
1. Re:Are you crazy?!? by bondsbw · 2012-02-20 08:16 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Who said anything about "giving" ideas? Those things cost money, you know.
  
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  All my liberal friends think I'm a conservative, all my conservative friends think I'm a liberal.
And not one mention by Master+Moose · 2012-02-20 08:19 · Score: 4, Funny

I kept waiting for the baby eating, but it never happened.

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. . .gone when the morning comes
1. Re:And not one mention by mounthood · 2012-02-20 08:43 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  I kept waiting for the baby eating, but it never happened.
  Are you suggesting that the author should have copied someone else's work?
  
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  tomorrow who's gonna fuss
Re:The Article by nedlohs · 2012-02-20 08:24 · Score: 4, Funny

Clearly you didn't read it, or you can't read.
Since it had such a jab...
Re:On the other hand... by AngryDeuce · 2012-02-20 08:26 · Score: 4, Funny

Socialist! Is a man not entitled to the sweat from his great-great-great-grandfather's brow?!
Re:The author is a neuroscientist and he can't add by Culture20 · 2012-02-20 08:36 · Score: 4, Funny

Sheldon, mathematical liberties are allowed when used in hyperbole.
Re:Another way of eternity by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-20 08:40 · Score: 5, Funny

No, it will definitely end. About 70 years after the last human died.
you think copyright will be ended by the extinction of the human race?
oh you poor naive sod, there are plans for that.
Re:Please be satire by danbert8 · 2012-02-20 08:44 · Score: 5, Funny

I have a new disciplinary policy I'd like to institute called "No Child's Left Behind". You spank them, but you can only hit their right butt cheek.

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Yes it's an anecdote! Were you expecting original research in a Slashdot comment?
Re:Another way of eternity by Timex · 2012-02-20 09:17 · Score: 4, Funny

No, it will definitely end. About 70 years after the last lawyer died.
There. FTFY.

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When politicians are involved, everyone loses.
Re:Another way of eternity by meerling · 2012-02-20 12:15 · Score: 4, Funny

No, cockroaches have more ethics than that :)