Copyright is just one of the many fixes for inherent problems in capitalism. It needs to exist in capitalism because otherwise you’d just make the problems even worse. But it’s an innovation crippling system that (like everything in capitalism) only benefits the rich. So no copyright shouldn’t exist, just like capitalism.
Copyright laws are quite bad as they look today imo. They are supposedly made to improve creativity but when big companies buy up different IPs and patents they stifle the creativity more than anything. Look at fantastic four, Sony has the movie rights for that IP and they damn make sure that they produce movies often enough that they keep it, but only juuust often enough. If some other studio, small studio or indy producer wants to try they should be able to.
Another thing is lotr, Amazon has the rights for some parts but not all, meaning they can not write about a character if it wasn’t in the ending section of the books. This stifles their creativity, and it’s not even the author that controls this - it’s the descendants! Why does the descendants have such control over something they did not create is beyond me..
In my opinion, copyright laws should only apply to the original text, and only for a limited time. If someone wants to make a sequel to the book I just wrote? Go for it, it's not going to be cannon or from the same author. If they want to publish it in Spanish? No, it's substantially the same.
Likewise, if I paint a picture of my OC, I should have copywrite over that picture, no one else can sell or print it, but not the characteristics which make up the OC.
It seems at first that this would lead to a horrible Disney stealing intellection property situation, but I don't think so. Instead, everyone would be doing the reverse. Pop culture would be reabsorped by the masses. Films are,at the end of the day, produced by artist, except now those artist are the essential element, not the ip. A studio is only valuable if they can produce great films, not aquire the best brand. Let's let the masses take a crack at superman.
As an IP attorney I support what I call "The Founder's Copyright"
15 year term, plus and additional 15 is you re-register.
mandatory registration. None of this auto-registration
mandatory copyright notice (Copyright (c) 2023)
no moral rights
no retroactive copyright extensions (should have been unConstitutional, bad SCOTUS specifically Ginsburg who wrote that opinion)
recognition in the law that computers and the internet work by copying. This blanket prohibition on copying causes judges to make workable exceptions and intentional ignore the ludacris parts of the law.
as a bonus, I think you should be required to give 2 full copies of whatever you register for archiving.
If they roll back copyright law to the state it was in in 1830, I'd support it again.
Leaning towards the shorter times, as in 10 years by default, with two additional extensions of 10 years up to a maximum of 30 done by filling paperwork and paying a fee. This time frame would provide plenty of opportunity for work to be monetized by their creator, and as well as there being room for continued monetization up to a realistic (IE non eternal) limit. While providing space for new generations to develop things that were abandoned, and the next generation to remix something they enjoyed as children.
Do note, I believe that this discussion has little to do with Piracy. While a thing entering public domain would mean that it could be distributed freely, I'm largely concerned about the creators and their ability to remix existing properties, as unfortunately, you can't really pirate copyrights. Everything created based on another's work (which lacks special permissive licensing) is always dancing on the knives edge of the owner's whims.
With the system as it is, anything that released when you're a five year old, you can only legally remix it when you're so old you can't remember it anymore. (And that's if you're lucky)
Strongly opposed, but instead of writing a way too long comment explaining too little or getting into useless arguments with those pro, I‘m gonna tell you about something which says more and better than I ever could:
"Against Intellectual Monopoly" by Michele Boldrin and David K. Lavine, it can be found to download on Anna‘s Archive, right on the front page too. I think it is part of what inspires this project and others like it.
I think the 20-40 year range for copyright is fine, and I think copyright itself is fine too when it is in the same ecosystem of strong pro-privacy laws. However currently copyright is broken, it lasts far to long as is "Complimented" further laws that are absurd.
I believe in the concept that if you create something, you should be able to profit from it. What I take issue with is hoarding ideas and properties (particularly artwork) in a way that prevents others from enjoying them in their own way.
It gets more complicated with art. An artist no longer owns that art once it's in the public. Sure, they own the original idea and should be able to support themselves with that, but if I want to make a derivative work then there should be no barriers to allowing me to do so.
It's a hard line to walk, and I'm constantly reevaluating where I think that line is. Right now piracy for me is a way of "test driving" content. If I like it and want to support it, I will purchase it later. This is how I am able to have bookshelves filled with books I've actually read, and video games I've actually played. The ones I don't enjoy/buy were never going to get a purchase from me anyhow, so they've lost nothing.
I'm not nearly intelligent or well-read enough to know how to apply that to modern copyright laws, but that's the essence of how I see it.
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