5 ms·

I don't like this because the amount an entity will pay to keep copyright is roughly proportional to how culturally valuable it is. The more Disney will pay to

I don't like this because the amount an entity will pay to keep copyright is roughly proportional to how culturally valuable it is. The more Disney will pay to lock up Mickey Mouse, the more we want the mouse to be free.

loarabia 14y ago
Well. You could always let the yearly payment grow uncapped. Assuming it grows faster than the rate of inflation at some point it would almost assuredly be in the interest of any holder to release a copyright. Another idea. Letting cost rise uncapped would eventually cause any holder to not re-register but is bad for smaller entities that hold copyrights. Capping the long-term re-registration cost while still having a long time limit could be a decent blend. Mickey Mouse is trademarked which is perpetual so it seems like the copyright on some cartoons would expire but it still wouldn't open the floodgates to any random person making their own Mickey cartoon series as Disney would vigorously enforce their trademark. Edited: Added another thought. On more edit: Trademark vs. Copyright
wtvanhest 14y ago
If there is no cap on the exponential portion eventually Mickey will be too expensive to protect and he will be free. The result would be the Government capturing all the value in later years and then the work would be freed allowing the public to capture the value. I think the OP's suggestion is the best I have heard so far. It could be a simple formula like a fee starting at $10/year for each copywrited work after 14 years, then it doubles ever year. By the 24th year you would be looking at paying just over $5,000, but by the 44th year Disney would be paying $5Bn/year. Probably not worth keeping the rights on Mickey for $5Bn/year.
- Danieru 14y ago
  Now Government will have yet another source of revenue to optimize. Since Government hates giving up revenue we could expect entities close to giving up due to cost to receive exceptions. Anything to keep the money flowing.
yuhong 14y ago
Yea, but having random works be in copyright for too long is even worse, especially as it gets harder to find the copyright owner.
bo1024 14y ago
Right, but this should be perfect because they're paying the public. (Not that I expect the government to spend the money wisely, but in theory it seems to make sense.)

loarabia 14y ago

Well. You could always let the yearly payment grow uncapped. Assuming it grows faster than the rate of inflation at some point it would almost assuredly be in the interest of any holder to release a copyright. Another idea. Letting cost rise uncapped would eventually cause any holder to not re-register but is bad for smaller entities that hold copyrights. Capping the long-term re-registration cost while still having a long time limit could be a decent blend. Mickey Mouse is trademarked which is perpetual so it seems like the copyright on some cartoons would expire but it still wouldn't open the floodgates to any random person making their own Mickey cartoon series as Disney would vigorously enforce their trademark. Edited: Added another thought. On more edit: Trademark vs. Copyright

wtvanhest 14y ago

If there is no cap on the exponential portion eventually Mickey will be too expensive to protect and he will be free. The result would be the Government capturing all the value in later years and then the work would be freed allowing the public to capture the value. I think the OP's suggestion is the best I have heard so far. It could be a simple formula like a fee starting at $10/year for each copywrited work after 14 years, then it doubles ever year. By the 24th year you would be looking at paying just over $5,000, but by the 44th year Disney would be paying $5Bn/year. Probably not worth keeping the rights on Mickey for $5Bn/year.

Danieru 14y ago
Now Government will have yet another source of revenue to optimize. Since Government hates giving up revenue we could expect entities close to giving up due to cost to receive exceptions. Anything to keep the money flowing.

yuhong 14y ago

Yea, but having random works be in copyright for too long is even worse, especially as it gets harder to find the copyright owner.

bo1024 14y ago

Right, but this should be perfect because they're paying the public. (Not that I expect the government to spend the money wisely, but in theory it seems to make sense.)