Consumers vs. IP Owners: The Future of Copyright

conJunk writes "The BBC has a thoughtful article about new challenges in copyright. The problem: The rights to the audio recordings of the Beatles first album will expire in 2013. While consumers stand to benefit from competing releases of the materials, the copyright owners are of course terrified. And the artists? This one doesn't even seem to affect them."

They think no one will like the Beatles

[LiftOp]

...in 95 years. Or, perhaps, the very selfish assume they will be dead and no longer receiving royalties.

Just wait. The Bottled Head of Paul McCartney's gonna be pissed!

Don't even need the US congress!

[ackthpt]

It's highly likely that copyright in the USA will be extended again by then. History tells me that much.

You don't even need the US congress! I got an email just today:

e><t3nd y0ur c0pyr1ghts!

Mexican pharmacy can provide you with all meds you are need of! Get more satisfactions! Fast and descreet deliverie!

Legitimate points

[blibbler]

I know that there will be a lot of anti-recording industry comments on here, but it is clear that their main interest in extending the copyright period is to protect us from low quality Beatles compilations. Consider the irreversable damage that could be caused to children if their first experience of the Beatles has the songs in a less than ideal order.
Please think of the children.

Yestarday

[Gromius]

Yestarday, all my copyrights expired so far away
Now* it looks as though they're here to stay
Oh, I belive in royalty pay


*thanks to Evil Mega Corp (c) lobbying agency

Re:Duration

[sponga]

Mickey Mouse sells merchandise these days; lunchpail, hats, shirts, everything else and his acting career has gone down the drain and Mickey is a little overweight these days anyway. Have you seen the craze on Mickey Mouse over in the Asian markets; it's huge and I know collectors making a bundle on ebay.

It doesn't matter

[Megane]

I'll still have to buy the White Album again.

Who submitted this?

[greginnj]

Finally a story that BeatlesBeatles should have submitted, and he's nowhere to be seen.

Re:Copyrights won't expire in the U.S.

[shark72]

Wow, that makes me feel really, really old! I just barely remember getting a then-current Beatles album as a present as a small child -- Magical Mystery Tour, I think it was. Now, we have Slashdotters who don't even know that the Beatles were British.

That generation gap is a devil bitch, eh?

Re:The Corruption of Copyright Law

[mikelambert70]

The original copyright was in the context of a world with a horseman as the fastest information spreading method.

In today's world the copyright should be 14+14 days and heading towards 14+14 hours.

Re:Creation in the digital age

[cliffski]

wow that sounds cool, there will be no more new music, new software, new movies, new tv shows, ever again. great plan buddy. I spose you assume that creative people dont need to eat?
get real, the ease of copying creative works means that copyright is MORE important now than before.
I guess you dont work in a job where you create anything digital or easily copied, because your plan makes you a homeless tramp...