Regulus
10-02-2014, 08:32 AM
Should our copyright laws be changed to as they stood when first passed?
I'm sure ALL of us have had the frustration of wanting certain TV Shows and Movies that simply aren't officially available on DVD, or have been a "One Season and done, or only a "Best Of" Collection. Examples include TV Shows such as Lassie, Marcus Welby MD, The Beverly Hillbillies and Amos and Andyalong with movies Movies such as Song of the South among others. Is it any wonder bootlegging is so popular? As it stands, Most of these titles won't become "Public Domain" until the funeral of your Great-Great-Great Grandchildren due to the currant Copyright Law. It wasn't always that way. When originally passed, An owner of "Intellectual Property" Could Have it Copywrighted for 16 years, then could renew that Copyright ONLY ONCE. Today the Copyright can be renewed after 25 years again and again until 75 years after the last person associated with the show has passed away. If a Newborn Infant is on a show, and passes away 85 years later, that means the show won't be "Public Domain" until the year 2174!
Law enforcement agencies have enough problems dealing with Terrorism, Drug and Human Trafficking. Must they also roust those of us simply because we want to see a show the studios refuse to release? I can understand why they should crack down of those who Illegally pirate a show BEFORE it really comes out (As I'm writing this someone has already posted about downloading a movie that won't be released until tomorrow)! :eek: I'll just wait until the movie mentioned comes out on DVD (Probably around Christmastime if my calculations are correct). IMO Shows that are 32 or more years or older is an entirely different story IMHO. These shows had their run, and are sitting on shelves somewhere rotting away. My Solution? AMEND the Copyright Law so it reverts back to the original 32 year limit. Law Enforcement officials will have better things to concentrate their efforts on, and we can watch vintage shows that they just don't make anymore.
I'm sure ALL of us have had the frustration of wanting certain TV Shows and Movies that simply aren't officially available on DVD, or have been a "One Season and done, or only a "Best Of" Collection. Examples include TV Shows such as Lassie, Marcus Welby MD, The Beverly Hillbillies and Amos and Andyalong with movies Movies such as Song of the South among others. Is it any wonder bootlegging is so popular? As it stands, Most of these titles won't become "Public Domain" until the funeral of your Great-Great-Great Grandchildren due to the currant Copyright Law. It wasn't always that way. When originally passed, An owner of "Intellectual Property" Could Have it Copywrighted for 16 years, then could renew that Copyright ONLY ONCE. Today the Copyright can be renewed after 25 years again and again until 75 years after the last person associated with the show has passed away. If a Newborn Infant is on a show, and passes away 85 years later, that means the show won't be "Public Domain" until the year 2174!
Law enforcement agencies have enough problems dealing with Terrorism, Drug and Human Trafficking. Must they also roust those of us simply because we want to see a show the studios refuse to release? I can understand why they should crack down of those who Illegally pirate a show BEFORE it really comes out (As I'm writing this someone has already posted about downloading a movie that won't be released until tomorrow)! :eek: I'll just wait until the movie mentioned comes out on DVD (Probably around Christmastime if my calculations are correct). IMO Shows that are 32 or more years or older is an entirely different story IMHO. These shows had their run, and are sitting on shelves somewhere rotting away. My Solution? AMEND the Copyright Law so it reverts back to the original 32 year limit. Law Enforcement officials will have better things to concentrate their efforts on, and we can watch vintage shows that they just don't make anymore.