RE: [dvd-discuss] Petition for rational copyright law

[microlenz(at)earthlink.net]

On 3 Jun 2003 at 20:38, Jim Bauer wrote:

Date sent:      	Tue, 03 Jun 2003 20:38:36 -0400 (EDT)
From:           	Jim Bauer <jfbauer@comcast.net>
To:             	dvd-discuss@eon.law.harvard.edu
Subject:        	RE: [dvd-discuss] Petition for rational copyright law
Send reply to:  	dvd-discuss@eon.law.harvard.edu

> I have trouble seeing how this will work.  Of course, I have
> trouble seeing how the current system works too.
> 
> How would I tell is the copyright holder did indeed pay
> their $1 at the 50 year mark?  If I assume there is some
> sort of copyright registration required for the extention
> then I am still left whith determining how to search it.
> For something big, like a movie, that might be easy.  But
> how can I search for something small like a posting to a mailing
> list like this?
> 
> What we need IMO is to know, from the moment of publication,
> the date a copyrighted worke gains PD status.

Details! Yes the Devil is in them but the point here is to get the issue before 
Congress. THEN the details can be worked out in PUBLIC not behind smokefilled 
closed doors. If this does NOT get to Congress then whatever the best solution 
is becomes irrelevant. They won't act on it! At least getting it TO congress 
means that something MAY happen as opposed to not where NOTHING CAN happen.
(May = possibility, Can = Ability)

> 
> 
> 
> In 04-Jun-2003 Wendy Seltzer wrote:
> > [Not quite DVD-related, but important]
> > 
> > The Supreme Court's decision in Eldred v. Ashcroft told us we'd have 
> > to take our case to Congress to reclaim for public use the vast 
> > quantity of art and literature under copyright but out of print.  The 
> > draft Public Domain Enhancement Act would help do that by requiring 
> > copyright holders to pay a nominal fee 50 years after publication.
> > 
> > Under this proposed Act, copyright holders still commercially 
> > exploiting their copyrights could retain those copyrights, and would 
> > update the records telling others where to contact them for 
> > licensing.  Works that copyright holders didn't value at even $1, 
> > however, would go into the public domain -- where others might find 
> > new ways to use them.
> > 
> > We think this Act would restore some of the public's copyright 
> > balance.   If you agree, please consider signing the petition below:
> > <http://www.PetitionOnline.com/eldred/petition.html>
> > 
> > Thanks for your interest in Openlaw!
> >