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IcaroRibeiro on 29 April 2022
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Chrkeller said:
IcaroRibeiro said:

Sometimes I think interest is more important than private interest. Like, should Lord of the Rings copyright belongs to companies and Tolkien descendents forever or should they, eventually, become public property? 

This not a matter of discussion. Laws have long ago settled books like that will become public domain once the license expires 

I have no idea what was settled for games though because I believe the copyright belongs to companies and not creators and a company can survive for centuries. I don't think games should remain private property forever though and must become public eventually 

But alas, this is a pretty big discussion. I have no background in laws to elaborate a solid position here 

I read about it briefly yesterday, it seems said license is 95 years.  So.....  at some point it will be public, but not in my lifetime.  

Personally I think Tolken copy right belongs to the family until they decide to sell it.  It can be theirs forever.  It is their property.  I don't know how old Mickey Mouse is, but it still makes money for Disney.  It wouldn't be right to steal their property just because somebody wants it.  How old is Coca Cola?  Should Coke be stripped of their money making cow?    

Disney can still making use of Mickey character even if their very first movies become public property 

The point of culture pieces becoming public is to recognize them as piece of arts where their cultural and historical values offset their economical value. Public domain artwork is great because can be freely used for educational and recreational purposes. Not everything must be subject of capitalism, there are more important things in society than providing infinite money for privileged people who just have the luck to born in the families as past artists. I personally couldn't care less if JK Rowlling great-great-great-great children won't profit from her work

For once, most of theatrical plays are based on public domain plays. Imagine how dreadful would be the state of Theater as a art field if there was no public domain stories and they absolutely need to pay copyrights for children plays on high school? 

Last edited by IcaroRibeiro - on 29 April 2022