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I wonder if Ronnie was referring to his recording contract when he wrote those lyrics.

I think that creative artists deserve total protction from piracy for a LIMITED time - 25 to 30 years is about right, everything prior to the 1970's should rightfully be in the public domain by now.

The USSC has correctly ruled that the existence of copyright is an issue of right or wrong, but the duration of copyright is a political decision, no different in my opinion from tax rates or speed limits.

I wonder if Ronnie was referring to his recording contract when he wrote those lyrics.

I don't know and I don't think it matters. He was a songwriter who held the legal right to that property. Anyone who violates his copyright is stealing. It's no more complicated than that. And personally, having been a Skynyrd fan all my life, I think he'd personally bust anybody's jaw that tried it if he could.

I think that creative artists deserve total protction from piracy for a LIMITED time - 25 to 30 years is about right, everything prior to the 1970's should rightfully be in the public domain by now.

On what basis? Just cuz it'd be nice for you? Why shouldn't Ronnie be able to pass ownership of Sweet Home Alabama on to his kids, so they can receive the fruits of HIS labor? Why are ppl so anxious to pick the pockets of songwriters?

The USSC has correctly ruled that the existence of copyright is an issue of right or wrong, but the duration of copyright is a political decision, no different in my opinion from tax rates or speed limits.

That may be, but even so, I don't see why the creator shouldn't own their creation and be able to pass it on to their kiddies. At some point music should probably enter the public domain, but I'd like to hear the compelling reason why it should be so soon. I'd like to think an artists grandkids or even great-grandkids could enjoy the fruits of their own family's labor.

Here's Johnny and Donnie Van Zant on the subject:

Saint Louis, Missouri: What do you think of Napster, the online file sharing system? Do you think there is a future for music to be released over the Internet??
Johnny: I have strong feelings on this. When you write a song it's your creation. Unfortunately we live in the land of the free, but nothing's for free. I can't walk into Wal-Mart and walk out with a pair of pants.
Donnie: It's our livelihood.
http://www.usatoday.com/community/chat/2001-03-02-vanzant.htm

I see no reason to think my man Ronnie would have thought any differently.

"Slicker steal my money
since I was seventeen,
If it ain't no pencil pusher,
then it got to be a honky tonk queen"

Or maybe it's an immature, irresponsible adult child who, like an infant, wants what he want when he wants it, never mind the rules.

The USSC has correctly ruled that the existence of copyright is an issue of right or wrong,

Bzzt! Return you Junior Constitution Decoder Ring back to the leftists on the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court should not rule on right or wrong. It should rule on Constitutional/unconstitutional and legal/illegal.

Article 1, section 8:

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;

Right there in the Constitution is the authority for congress to grant copyrights "for limited times". That is what the Supreme Court should rule on.

Whether copyrights can legally be extended after they are granted (an ex post facto law in my opinion) and whether the current Disney pushed perpetual extensions meet the "for limited times" requirement are something which could be argued.

I'll go along with that. Further, they can only lease their rights for a limited time -- i.e. once, say 7 years, the lease to a music company is up all rights revert back to the artist giving artist a chance to negotiate a new lease up until said work enters the public domain.

The USSC has correctly ruled that the existence of copyright is an issue of right or wrong

Er, no they didn't, and if they did they would deserve a spanking for judicial activism.

Congress has the enumerated power to grant copyrights (and, by clear implication, the ability to not use that power). Thus, the existence of copyrights is a political decision.