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They only expire because of an overwhelming public interest. Otherwise the very idea of them being property that can be created, bought, and sold would allow th
by cestith 10y ago
They only expire because of an overwhelming public interest. Otherwise the very idea of them being property that can be created, bought, and sold would allow their owners the same rights as other property owners. They can expire your novel because it's useful (hopefully) to culture, but they can't expire your physical book except under exceptional circumstances.
- Zigurd 10y agoI don't think that makes sense. They expire because they are disclosed, i.e. published, manufactured and sold, etc. Without a government granted and enforced monopoly, creators and inventors would have no protection against being immediately copied without compensation. There is no question of a "right" in this. It's a government granted monopoly, explicitly authorized in the constitution because, otherwise, such monopolies were considered abhorrent. In that, it is a unique part of the US constitution, and does not resemble in any way the rights protected by other parts of the constitution.