Public Domain

[Thorn Wilde]

So, I just had a very odd conversation with my flatmate. I was reading Pride and Prejudice online at Project Gutenberg, and happened to mention to her that it's all out there cause it's public domain. I'm sure everyone knows this, but just in case: A set amount of time after the creator of a work dies (70 years in most cases) their work passes into the public domain, which means it's no longer subject to copyright and can be freely reproduced and used by anyone, without having to pay royalties. My flatmate argued that this is unfair, because why should anyone get to just have what you've created just cause you're dead? I argued that that would mean that an artist's descendants could earn money off of their work for all eternity, which would just be weird, and kind of amounts to the same thing; why should I make money from something my great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparent made? I don't even know them. Plus, you know, I think art is a dialogue. Once it's out there it's not really just yours anymore.

 

I find this rule perfectly fair, and as a writer and musician, the idea that people can enjoy what I've created for free or play with it any way they like 150 years from now, actually makes me really happy, and I think it's wonderful that we are free to do so with other people's work now. Plagiarism won't hurt me if I'm dead. So, what do you think? Does it bother you that what you create will one day become part of the public domain? 

Edited November 7, 2018 by Thorn Wilde

[Carlos Hazday]

I could only hope 100 years from now someone cares enough about my work to use/share it in some way.

[Thorn Wilde]

1 minute ago, Carlos Hazday said:

I could only hope 100 years from now someone cares enough about my work to use/share it in some way.

 

Right? That's what I think. For all I care, it could pass into the public domain the minute I die. 

[Thorn Wilde]

 

Spoiler

(It bears mentioning that my flatmate is not a creator of intellectual property in any way, shape or form.)

 

Edited November 8, 2018 by Thorn Wilde

[Mikiesboy]

doesn't bother me at all ... hope someone enjoys it

[Kitt]

I am not much of an author. My shorts are REALLY short. I think it would be the coolest thing in the world if someone found them interesting enough to want to use after I am gone!

[Thorn Wilde]

So, so far, we are all resoundingly of the opinion that public domain is of the good. Nice to know I'm not the crazy one.

 

EDIT: I mean, I am. Just not in this particular case.

Edited November 8, 2018 by Thorn Wilde

[Kitt]

Well you aren't alone. Most of us are on the slightly crazy side.

[dughlas]

If someone likes my few words enough to want to use them go for it.

[wenmale64]

I am not an author nor an artist, but I would like to think that if I were, I would be pleased that my works were appreciated enough that they were remembered by someone living and trying to expand on my efforts......  Now as for someone wanting to proffit from my works directly, either while I were alive or after I am dead, I really hope some of the ghost stories have a small basis in truth..................................BOO

Edited November 9, 2018 by wenmale64
spelling

[Former Member]

All the content I create is very derivative. I don’t really create anything unique. But I’m also not making any money off of it either.  ;–)

 

I think control over the use of content is more important than the profit. Creating a hologram of Fred Astaire to sell vacuum cleaners probably caused him to protest from the grave, but who listens to the dead. Disrespectful use of an image, person, art, or music after a person is dead is shameful, but shame never stops some people…