That does really suck, just with the circumstances of the market that were set up by streaming to deprive artists of what they would otherwise be earning.
But at the same time, Full House ended 30 years ago. IMO, were it not for the fucked up copyright standards Disney created, it should be a public domain work at this point.
Noah Webster started it in the 1830s, and then Mark Twain extended it in the 1900s. A quote from him:
“Necessarily I am interested particularly and especially in the part of the bill which concerns my trade. I like that bill, and I like that extension from the present limit of copyright life of forty-two years to the author’s life and fifty years after. I think that will satisfy any reasonable author, because it will take care of his children. Let the grandchildren take care of themselves.”
But, I agree we need to go back to the original maximum of 28 years. Fuck Twain’s argument that it should last so long it benefits his kids. They can get a goddamn job from the nepotistic connection alone.
It does mean others could copy and distribute the work at their leisure. You can upload Steamboat Willie to YouTube, Wikipedia, or wherever now and there is not a thing* Disney can do to stop you.
The actors could have it in their contract that they get residuals for infinity years, but there’s not much of a reason for purchases to earn residuals from once the right of distribution becomes free to all.
*Not legally, at least, but YouTube is bad at checking legality of takedown requests
That does really suck, just with the circumstances of the market that were set up by streaming to deprive artists of what they would otherwise be earning.
But at the same time, Full House ended 30 years ago. IMO, were it not for the fucked up copyright standards Disney created, it should be a public domain work at this point.
Noah Webster started it in the 1830s, and then Mark Twain extended it in the 1900s. A quote from him:
“Necessarily I am interested particularly and especially in the part of the bill which concerns my trade. I like that bill, and I like that extension from the present limit of copyright life of forty-two years to the author’s life and fifty years after. I think that will satisfy any reasonable author, because it will take care of his children. Let the grandchildren take care of themselves.”
But, I agree we need to go back to the original maximum of 28 years. Fuck Twain’s argument that it should last so long it benefits his kids. They can get a goddamn job from the nepotistic connection alone.
But it would benefit his kids anyway, all the excess wealth during his lifetime would accumulate anyway.
Copyright of that length is garbage. 14 years max. Make new work like everyone else.
(Or do basic income for everyone so people’s needs are met. That’s fine too)
Fuller House, though, ran for five seasons starting in 2016. They hadn’t sucked all the nostalgia marrow out of the original so they exhumed it.
Expired copyright means others can make new content, not that the people who made the original content can no longer receive residuals.
It does mean others could copy and distribute the work at their leisure. You can upload Steamboat Willie to YouTube, Wikipedia, or wherever now and there is not a thing* Disney can do to stop you.
The actors could have it in their contract that they get residuals for infinity years, but there’s not much of a reason for purchases to earn residuals from once the right of distribution becomes free to all.
*Not legally, at least, but YouTube is bad at checking legality of takedown requests