It’s weird we never hear about how “the founding fathers” knew best in respect to copyright law…
They set it at 14 years, after that they could apply for a single 14 year extension and that’s it.
With Fallout 1 coming out in 1997, we should be at the point where anyone who wants to make a fallout game, could just make a fallout game.
Imagine how much better gaming would be if billion dollar corporations couldn’t get a monopoly on IP forever.
Capitalism. The minority of people own stuff and call the shots.
I personally think a short copyright might be acceptable. A couple years. And following that open use with attribution.
I liked @givesomefucks comment. That copyright should last 14 years, (to me maybe idk that seems a little short but whatever) and then they can apply for extensions. if intellectual property is open to the public after just a couple years then nobody who put all the time, energy, and creativity that could’ve taken 10+ years of hard work (think GRRM’s ASOIAF) could be stolen and anyone could make any fan fiction and sell it within the universe he created without them having ever to have had to put in the work or had the talent that GRRM had himself.
Copyright is a very new concept compared to how long humanity has been telling stories. The idea that “oh no someone will make fan fiction!” is silly. That’s how shit was. People would take stories and change them. It’s not theft. It’s how you get Shakespeare.
what your suggesting would require a rework of our entire economic system and pretty much most economic systems which are market economies. people create things because of the value they can get from it. (that’s not the only reason but it’s a large driver of it). if people can’t profit off making a new IP, say like a new book for example with a whole new universe and characters, many people would stop writing new books in new IPs.
you’re basically proposing socialism for IPs, which i don’t think would be a conducive environment for people to want to make new IPs and would just lead to people creating constant spinoffs of other peoples creative ideas without an original thought of their own and without rewarding the original creator. there has to be some incentive to make something of your own, and right now that incentive is ownership and monetizing of that IP.
would just lead to people creating constant spinoffs of other peoples creative ideas without an original thought of their own and without rewarding the original creator. there has to be some incentive to make something of your own, and right now that incentive is ownership and monetizing of that IP.
Counter argument: the entirety of human history where people created, without a system of copyright.
Furthermore, I would accept a short duration of copyright (perhaps 7 years) as a compromise. The current length is far too long.
Edit: and another thing! Disney! You think they made up Snow White?
through the entirety of human history rape, theft, slavery, and all other horrors were common. we outlawed them. things existing throughout human history is not an argument. also in terms of copyright length i agree there should be a time limit but seven years seems way too short. even george RR martin’s work was 30 years in the making. do you think after george RR martin released his first book 7 years after that everyone else could make their own ASOIAF books, movies, tv shows, etc without having to get permission or compensate george in any way? i feel like this is shafting the creator
You were saying people wouldn’t create without copyright. And yet, copyright didn’t exist for much of humanity. Therefore, copyright is not necessary for people to create. If it was, they wouldn’t have created all the stuff they did.
Slavery and other horrors are irrelevant
Edit:
do you think after george RR martin released his first book 7 years after that everyone else could make their own ASOIAF books, movies, tv shows, etc without having to get permission or compensate george in any way? i feel like this is shafting the creator
7 years is plenty of time to profit.
And they can still profit by creating new work, or selling people the authentic copy. People go see live music despite video existing. People buy designer bags despite bootlegs existing.
If anyone can write a spiderman comic, then the ones that are the best will presumably do the best.
