To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
The time limits on patents are severely (such as drugs) limited but the entertainment industry keeps getting money long after the artist and authors are long dead.
Anybody else see the finger prints of Liberal Politicians all over this.
Sonny Bono (R-CA) was among those in the 1990s who pushed for one of the extensions.
RIAA is one of the top lobbyists in DC.
I agree it's beyond ridiculous. Twenty five years on music is more than reasonable. Most persons who are really into music will buy a legal copy most likely anyways. I listen to a FM station classic rock to listen for music I had forgotten about and often later buy because of radio play.
Ever since I was about 10 years old I've been buying recordings. 47 years of purchases and none of the music is public domain yet. I had about 500 Vinyl LP's at one point. Now I have about 400 CD's and about 250 Cassettes. How many times must I pay premium licensing for them? Some great music is lost thanks to the recording companies antics. One or two releases in one format then gone. Not to be found in new formats. A 20-25 year copyright life would help resolve that and be a win-win for all. Yeah some recordings of the 1970's are still going strong but it's mainly people replacing worn out disk. Dark Side Of The Moon is a good example.