Yeah. Art benefits from artists being able to make an income from their work, which copyright helps with.
But… why would it extend beyond their death? Their family would inherit the money they made in their liftetime, just as with most other jobs.
I can see little if any good come from the ever-expanding protection of “intellectual property”, but certainly a lot of damage:
- The existence of the Buck Rogers IP was a factor in killing TSR and practiacally driving Gary Gygax, inventor of Dungeons and Dragons, out of the creative industry. Disclaimers: The guy and the company had many other problems, too, but that certainly was a nail in the coffin.
- Much of the fan culture and crowd creativity is more or less illegal, as it often uses copyrighted, trademarked or otherwise protected material. As soon as anything looks too good, or some doofus in an office has a “bright” idea, or something seems to offer an opportunity for the IP holder to make even a tiny teeny bit of profit, it gets stomped.
- Look at how the Mythos established by Lovecraft and others served to inspire countless other media, all thanks to it being more or less public domain. Frankenstein, Dracula and many other stories in the public domain have served as basis to create many great (yes, and many ■■■■■■) movies, games and other media over the past decades. Imagine what great stuff we’d have if more of the "IP"s of the 20th century were in the public domain.
Yes, Disney and George Lucas, I’m looking at you. If copyright ended with the creator, I might live long enough to see somebody make a decent Star Wars movie again (excluding Rogue One, that was good, but by going against the corporate main stream). Curse you, Jar Jar Bings. And Boba Fett isn’t some folk hero, but a ruthless bounty hunter, Crom dammit. Instead, we get Rebel Moon. And cars that all look like electric shavers, cost a gazillon dollars and are near impossible to repair yourself. Rents are too high, too. F. you, reality.
Anyhow, I want my Danny deVito Conan movie.
I’ll be in my room. Don’t talk to me.
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