On Thu, 16 Jan 2003, Eric Smith wrote:
> > I thought copyrights were for 100 years?
>
> In the US, since the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act went into
> effect a few years ago, the term is 70 years beyond the death of the
> author, or 95 years from creation for works of corporate authorship.
>
> However, over the last 40 years or so, Congress on average every
> year increased the term by a year. The Supreme Court has now ruled
> that they are allowed to retroactively increase the copyright term,
> so it is now effectively unlimited, as long as Disney et al. continue
> lobbying for increases. :-(
It'd be really hard for someone to enforce copyright if, say, everyone
joined up in a cause to use a copyrighted work to death all over the
world.
For instance, everyone take Mickey Mouse and do something with it: make a
new cartoon, introduce new characters based on him, write new stories,
draw him in porn, etc. If thousands of people did this and disseminated
it over the web, Disney wouldn't be able to do anything about it but turn
to the courts. The courts would have a mess on their hands because the
only recourse would be to shut the internet down. It could force the
issue. Maybe. It's an idea.
But something must be done. Blowing up Disney's world headquarters would
make a nice statement.
(Please note certain parts of this message are a copyrighted (c) 2003
work of fiction by the author ;)
(Have to add that disclaimer in this day and age ;)
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
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Received on Thu Jan 16 2003 - 21:43:39 GMT