this post was submitted on 24 Jun 2023
205 points (100.0% liked)

Chat

7498 readers
32 users here now

Relaxed section for discussion and debate that doesn't fit anywhere else. Whether it's advice, how your week is going, a link that's at the back of your mind, or something like that, it can likely go here.

Subcommunities on Beehaw:

This community's icon was made by Aaron Schneider, under the CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
alyaza@beehaw.org
remington@beehaw.org
205
askBeehaw: should copyright even exist at all? and if it should, how long should the ideal term of copyright be? (beehaw.org)
submitted 1 year ago by alyaza@beehaw.org to c/chat@beehaw.org
187 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

a perennial favorite topic of debate. sound off in the replies.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] influence1123@psychedelia.ink 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think that's how it originally was until Disney realized they were gonna lose Mickey Mouse after Walt Disney died and single handedly got copyright law rewritten in their favor.

[–] BrikoX@vlemmy.net 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Copyright Act of 1790
Term of 14 years
Renewal of 14 years

Copyright Act of 1831
Term extended to 28 years
Renewal of 14 years

Copyright Act of 1909
Term of 28 years
Renewal extended to 28 years

Copyright Act of 1976
Life of the author, plus 50 years (generally)
75 years from date of publication or 120 years from date of creation (anonymous works, pseudonymous works, and works made for hire)

Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act (1998)
Life of the author, plus 70 years (generally)
95 years from date of publication or 120 years from date of creation (anonymous works, pseudonymous works, and works made for hire)

Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act (1998) is what Disney was able to lobby for to extend the life of Mickey for another 20 years. It expires in 2024. But trademark will still be valid.

[–] influence1123@psychedelia.ink 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Sounds like they had a hand in the one in the 70s as well. https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/how-disney-routinely-exerted-influence-on-the-us-copyright-law-to-keep-its-greatest-asset-mickey-mouse-549141 But yeah not quite as cut and dry as I initially put it.