re: #41 KGxvi

I really dislike our current copyright laws. I’d much prefer a renewal system (which we’ve had in the past). I’d say something like this:

1. copyright valid for the life of the artist plus five years (if the artist isn’t a natural person, set it at 25 years; if it’s a partnership or more than one artist it lasts for the life of the longest living artist plus five years)
2. one year before expiration, the copyright holder can renew the copyright. First for a 10 year period, second renewal is 5 years, third renewal and beyond is 1 year. Each renewal requires a higher registration fee. Also, the work must be published in a meaningful way at least once in the preceding 3 years (meaning Disney doesn’t get to run Steamboat Willie at 3 am on a Tuesday one time and then keep the protection).

I think that fairly balances all the interests involved.

I’d give it longer than 5 years after the artist dies; see Michael Jackson, Prince, David Bowie and Jonathan Larson. Their heirs deserve a couple of decades.