[Lancaster] Help stop the extension of copyrights on sound recordings. -- was: [Fwd: [CovLUG-Chat] OT copyright reduction petition]

[Ken Hough]

Richard Smedley wrote:
>coincidentally...
>
>-------- Forwarded Message --------
>From: Richard Kay <rich at copsewood.net>
>Reply-To: chat at lists.covlug.org.uk
>To: chat at lists.covlug.org.uk
>Subject: [CovLUG-Chat] OT copyright reduction petition
>Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:11:27 +0000
>
>This isn't strictly to do with Linux, but I guess those who
>are interested in free software are likely to be supportive
>of proposals to limit excessive copyright terms. Supporing
>reduction of copyright terms will also send a signal
>that oppressive measures to enforce copyright are
>unpopular, while the principle of proportionate reward
>to creators of work is not being challenged.
>
>So I have created a petition to limit copyright terms to
>a maximum of 20 years. This would benefit the development
>of free software by making it possible to consider proprietary
>software developed 20 or more years ago, for which the
>source code is available, as public domain material.
>Other arts are likely to benefit in a similar way.
>
>In practice it is likely that having copyright terms of
>longer than 20 years actually discouraged the creation of
>new work, as this makes it more difficult to reuse older
>materials when the rights owner is no longer traceable.
>
>Personally I don't know any artist, writer, songwriter
>or programmer who would have refused to create something
>because of loss of sales more than 20 years after the work was
>first published. This isn't why people are creative.
>
>If you are a UK citizen and agree, the petition is at:
>
>http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ShortenCopyright/
>
>Please do circulate this, or your own reasons for supporting
>it, to your other networks as you think appropriate.
>
>Thanks,
>Richard. 
>  

Well done Richard. I agree and have added my name to the petition.


Ken Hough