Re: [dvd-discuss] Copyright terms and Works for Hire

[microlenz(at)earthlink.net]

Well consider what might happen if EVERYTHING before 1960 went into 
the public domain? <.002. I picked 42 because it's between 28 and 50 and 
had some historical precedence.>

"IT's a Wonderful Life" went from a classic film to a popular one during its 
short stint as a public domain work (still public but some SFB threats to sue 
anyone that shows it). Remember its in black and white  (gee...8 bits per 
pixel...how quaint!) as well as being ancient. How many other rediscoveries 
are out there (NxNW?, Rearwindow, )

There have always been dozens of UHF channels NEVER used in any city 
because of a lack of applicants for licenses. Now the government has 
proposed HDTV as the solution. GIve everybody better pix and they can 
repackage the spectrum for other uses. Who wants HDTV? Not 
everybody...it doesn't seem to be moving as fast as a farmer prodding a 
dead mule with a pitchfork. With broadcast channels playing public domain 
material, and people getting access and discovering how much really is out 
there may decide that they don't need or want all that broadband and go for 
broadcast over the available spectrum. Ironically the stupid dodos that want 
to keep copyright terms extending off to infinity are also driving up the 
demand and cutting off their nose to spite their face..

From:           	"Ron Gustavson" <rongusss@mediaone.net>
To:             	<dvd-discuss@eon.law.harvard.edu>
Subject:        	Re: [dvd-discuss] Copyright terms and Works for Hire
Date sent:      	Wed, 13 Feb 2002 18:28:10 -0500
Send reply to:  	dvd-discuss@eon.law.harvard.edu

>  Michael A Rolenz wrote:
> 
> 
> > As I was pondering Ole Craigs posting  during my time on the moving
> > parking lots this morning, I was struck by the fact of how much of what's
> > on Network, Cable, etc is really replay TV.  How many cities have "I Love
> > Lucy", "Maverick","Twilight Zone", "Perry Mason" still playing? Those
> > shows are from the 50s and early 60s. With a 28 yr term, they would be in
> > the public domain. EVEN with a 42 yr term most of their episodes would be
> > in the public domain and could be broadcast without paying licensing fees.
> 
> Remember how CNN started out, broadcasting old movies that he could license
> for a song.
> Looks like CNN will be the last upstart network that wasn't hatched by a
> billionaire.
> 
>         __________no-&infin;-do__________
>