Why Do Copyrights Last So Long? - LinkedIn

Agree & Join LinkedIn

By clicking Continue to join or sign in, you agree to LinkedIn’s User Agreement, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy.

Sign in to view more content

Create your free account or sign in to continue your search

Sign in

Welcome back

Email or phone Password Show Forgot password? Sign in

or

By clicking Continue to join or sign in, you agree to LinkedIn’s User Agreement, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy.

New to LinkedIn? Join now

or

New to LinkedIn? Join now

By clicking Continue to join or sign in, you agree to LinkedIn’s User Agreement, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy.

Skip to main content

I strongly recommend that interested parties read this full article on Wikipedia covering copyright law and its evolution: History of copyright law

The good old House of Lords in England made the call in the mid 1700's that both Public Domain and statue-defined Copyright existed. France and the US were also grappling with how to promote, protect and ultimately share with the public any works. Remember, before this only a specific publisher in London would forever be the one with the right to print Shakespeare; a right under attack by devilish Scottish printers (how dare they!)

Now that the terms were subject to legislation, a moderate term of 14 years (with an extension of 14 more possible if the author was still alive) secured a limited monopoly that was intended to hold the author through to the end of his days and secure a reasonable inheritance for one's children. Not at all unexpected in societies that had Land Owners who derived profit by renting their land to use by farmers, workers or industry. (Read some Adam Smith if you want to hear more about how Rent is a fundamental element in economic understanding at the time.)

What is meant by copyright?

Are eBooks protected bycopyright?

A hundred years later and we have internationalization of the scheme being defined in treaty. In the Berne Convention, signatories were all agreeing to Lifetime-plus-fifty-years as the new minimum term.

How did we get that jump? Again, the publishers constantly push things back toward their original conception of perpetual copyright. These expansions always cite the author's need, but benefit the business to an equal or greater amount. And terms have been pushed farther and farther out over the decades. Partially because it turns out there is big business in making sequels and derivative works.

Literature has turned from being primarily a means of disseminating information and turned into an entertainment venue where the public is voracious for new-but-familiar content. (Amusingly, this does not hold true for music, which falls completely out of public favor in about 40-50 years. Yet the RIAA is one of the fiercest fighters of copyright protections.)

Content publishers now fear that someone will make a better version of James Bond's Casino Royale if they are given the chance to make their own derivatives. And they are probably right. But that's not the best justification for 110-year-long copyright terms just so we can protect Mickey Mouse's first movie.

Like Like Celebrate Support Love Insightful Funny Comment

• Copy
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• X

Share 1

To view or add a comment, sign in

More articles by Jennifer Pham

• Digital Transformation in Vietnam: A Remarkable Leap Towards Innovation and Intellectual Property Protection in 2025 Feb 21, 2025

  Digital Transformation in Vietnam: A Remarkable Leap Towards Innovation and Intellectual Property Protection in 2025

  Digital transformation in Vietnam and its journey towards becoming an innovation-driven economy has seen remarkable…

  2
• What are the Differences Between a Vietnam Representative Office and a Company? Feb 4, 2025

  What are the Differences Between a Vietnam Representative Office and a Company?

  A Representative Office in Vietnam differs from a Vietnamese company in several aspects, including Business Activities,…

  2
• The Importance of Real Estate Litigation Law Firms in Vietnam Dec 19, 2024

  The Importance of Real Estate Litigation Law Firms in Vietnam

  Vietnam’s rapidly growing real estate market, driven by economic expansion and foreign investment, has sparked…

  1
• Choosing a Right Law Firm in Vietnam: 7 Crucial Tips Nov 12, 2024

  Choosing a Right Law Firm in Vietnam: 7 Crucial Tips

  When navigating Vietnam’s legal environment, especially as a foreigner, choosing the right law firm is crucial for…

  1
• Establishing a Representative Office in Vietnam: A Simple Investment Route for Foreigners Sep 20, 2024

  Establishing a Representative Office in Vietnam: A Simple Investment Route for Foreigners

  Setting Up a Representative Office in Vietnam Under Vietnam Law Establishing a representative office in Vietnam is one…

  1
• Step-by-Step Guide to Register a Trademark in Vietnam Sep 4, 2024

  Step-by-Step Guide to Register a Trademark in Vietnam

  Step-by-Step Guide to Register a Trademark in Vietnam In this article, we'll explore the crucial steps to register a…

  1
• Expert Guidance to Register a Company in Vietnam Aug 27, 2024

  Expert Guidance to Register a Company in Vietnam

  Before embarking on the process of registering a company in Vietnam, it's crucial to gain a thorough understanding of…

  1
• Starting a Business in Vietnam: A Comprehensive Legal Guide for Foreign Investors Aug 16, 2024

  Starting a Business in Vietnam: A Comprehensive Legal Guide for Foreign Investors

  Vietnam has emerged as a prime destination for foreign investment, bolstered by its strong security, political…

  3
• Understanding Trademark Registration in Vietnam Aug 13, 2024

  Understanding Trademark Registration in Vietnam

  1. Importance of Trademark Registration Legal Protection: Registering your trademark in Vietnam legally protects your…

  1
• Establishing a Company in Vietnam: A Legal Perspective Jul 29, 2024

  Establishing a Company in Vietnam: A Legal Perspective

  While this information provides a general overview, it's essential to consult with a Vietnamese legal professional for…

  1

Show more See all articles

Explore content categories

• Career
• Productivity
• Finance
• Soft Skills & Emotional Intelligence
• Project Management
• Education
• Technology
• Leadership
• Ecommerce
• User Experience
• Recruitment & HR
• Customer Experience
• Real Estate
• Marketing
• Sales
• Retail & Merchandising
• Science
• Supply Chain Management
• Future Of Work
• Consulting
• Writing
• Economics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Employee Experience
• Workplace Trends
• Fundraising
• Networking
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Negotiation
• Communication
• Engineering
• Hospitality & Tourism
• Business Strategy
• Change Management
• Organizational Culture
• Design
• Innovation
• Event Planning
• Training & Development

Show more Show less