if copyright were more long-term I really don't get this. Other people have already replied to you but not specifically on "long-term" vs your later "unlimited

if copyright were more long-term I really don't get this. Other people have already replied to you but not specifically on "long-term" vs your later "unlimited-duration" stand. The USA adopted the Berne Convention in 1989. It stipulates that the duration of the term for copyright protection is the life of the author plus at least 50 years after their death. For some categories of works, the minimum duration is shorter. For example, the minimum term for applied art is 25 years. Movies have a minimum term of 50 years. Countries may choose a longer term of protection, and most countries have done so. If you're a potential "budding young novelist", will you eschew that career because life + 50 years isn't unlimited and isn't long enough for you? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries%27_copyright_lengths#Berne_Convention https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries%27_copyright...