“The “public” didn’t create it, so why should out ever be in their domain?”
Who then in your view should own the rights to “Hamlet?” Joe Shakespeare, the great-great-great-great-great-great-great etc. grandchild of William? Joe didn’t create it, either.
The Constitutional intent was that the patent and copyright processes should further the progress of the useful arts. Right now they are often used just to sit on those arts. Patent and copyright ought to be use it or lose it, at the least.
“Who then in your view should own the rights to “Hamlet?” Joe Shakespeare, the great-great-great-great-great-great-great etc. grandchild of William? Joe didn’t create it, either.”
You use the same analogy as Obama uses with the crusades.
Nobody is asking to copyright ancient Egyptian mummies. However, I am saying that there has to be property rights for at least a couple of generations. So, no, it is NOT your(public’s) property what a guy created 90 years ago. That guy’s descendants should have their RIGHTFUL ownership if they have not sold it or licensed it away.