Reduce Copyright Terms

Text of the Policy
 We will shorten copyright terms from the current length of the author's lifetime +50 years to a more economically justifiable length of 10 years from the date of publication.

Copyright owners will be granted the ability to commit their works to the public domain permanently at any time.

Rationales

 * Modern technology allows real-time releases and enable creators to reach wider audience at very minimal cost. Shortening copyright terms makes more sense than lengthening it, which only keeps it out of public access for longer. An astute creator would take advantage of the technology to reach as wide an audience as possible instead of making their creation hard to access. 10 years is reasonable time considering all works are derivative. Musicians creates their music often inspired by someone else's work. So no one have monopoly on arts and knowledge. Proponents of longer copyright terms are often copyright monopolist who controls copyright of works they did not create, and who only share minuscule percentage of profit with the original creators. Few exceptions are the blockbuster artist that they heavily promote. Vast number of talented independent artist remains obscured in this old business model.

Snippet of Discussions

 * For unlimited copyright if copyright consisted solely of having to attribute a work
 * This would avoid copyright monopolist from hoarding and keeping the copyright for themselves. A lot of times the creators signed contract not knowing how bad it is. I heard an independent creator commented how atrocious the big publishers generic contract is. Pretty much handing over the copyright to the publishers for their lifetime or beyond.
 * Discussions included moral rights and what should not be copyrightable. (Deferred and to be discussed as a separate policy on copyright)
 * As for using 10 years rather than 15, I refer you to software. While books and most recordings will last past 15 years software has a much shorter lifespan. If the goal is to make sure as much as possible makes it through its term under copyright weight should be given to the shorter term. The second question is how long after a work is published do artists make significant profits compared to residuals. I have misplaced my data on this so if someone else could link it it would be nice but I believe it was 90% within the first ten years with the rest over the entire remaining length of the copyright term (which is less than 1% per year after the first ten). Related is how little artists have valued extending their copyrights (with the exception of movies): https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110207/02222612989/if-artists-dont-value-copyright-their-works-why-do-we-force-it-them.shtml
 * We've got almost 100 years of culture protected under the copyright regime. Copyright should protect the expression of a given work for a limited time not for an average of 120 years.

Possible Misinformations
Myth: This would deny creators their rights to profits.  Fact: 10 years is not a short term considering original colonial era U.S. copyright term were 7 years and 5 years at a time when publishing and distribution cost much more and reaching audiences takes longer. (Copyright term was later expanded to one-time renewable of 14 years under the first U.S. Federal Copyright Law). Creators ability to earn does not end with copyright terms. Reputation and followers they have gained can be used to their advantage in an era with technology that allows crowdfunding, and social media's word of mouth and virality. Currently most artist gets their hard earned money through live performances and tours not through the copyright monopolist that often controls the copyrights of these artist works.

Related News or Articles
How Copyright Makes Culture Disappear https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20141229/10521029540/how-copyright-makes-culture-disappear.shtml

The "Statute of Anne" was the first statute that provided for copyright regulation by a government and its courts. This was introduced in April 5th, 1710 and given royal assent by Queen Anne of Britain. However, the first copyright by what we now know as Canada wasn't enacted until 1921 and had a duration of life of the author plus 50 years.

1710 Statute of Anne Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statute_of_Anne  1921 Copyright Act (PDF) Link: http://www.digital-copyright.ca/dcc-static/Copyright1921.pdf  Patent terms reform (somewhat relevant and similar problems as copyright maximalism) - http://levine.sscnet.ucla.edu/papers/ip.ch.10.m1004.pdf 

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