Oh boy, copyright discussion.

[Chuck Guzis]

On 11/15/2015 12:49 PM, Jason Scott wrote:

> If all you have to offer is another 7 paragraphs of bloviating, that's why
> they make the mute button.

Really, guys, you should look to the motion picture and musical industry 
if you want an exhaustive treatment on this subject.

In many, if not most, EU countries, copyright has pretty much always 
extended past the lifetime of the creator.  Traditionally, it's been 
life+50 or life+75.  Enough to take care of one's widow and children.

But there are anomalous cases.  Consider the work "Lullaby" penned by 
George Gershwin back around 1917.  Had Gershwin published the work, it 
would be in the public domain.   It was discovered long after his death 
in his papers by brother Ira and finally published in the 60s, where it 
now enjoys a very long life under copyright.

Note that Ira didn't compose it or even know about it before its 
discovery, but there you go.

To the best of my knowledge, Warner Brothers is still collecting license 
fees for the tune "Happy Birthday to You", even though neither of the 
two sisters involved in its composition are tied to the copyright.  That 
in itself is an interesting story, considering that the ditty in its 
original form was publish in the 1890s as "Good Morning to You". (one 
note difference).

Is it fair? Obviously not.  But it is what it is, If you don't like it, 
lobby for change with your leaders.

--Chuck