This points out the absurdity of our copyright laws. Why is 1984, published in 1948, still under copyright?? 61 years is an outrageous amout of time to allow any work to be under monopoly ownership. I understand all those arguments saying that we need such laws to encourage creativity and innovation, and I agree. But eighteen years?? (I forget the difference in length of coverage between copyrights and patents - maybe copyrights are less than 18, but not much.)

Certainly 5 years is more than enough to get any author some monopoly profits to reward his labor and genius. Patents are similarly out of control. This system needs to be reconsidered, in my opinion.

JF