COPYCENSE

Media firms should be able to protect their copyrights. And without any copyright protection of digital content, they may be correct that new high quality content is likely to dry up (along with much of their business). Yet tech and electronics firms are also correct that holding back new technology stifles innovation and is an unjustified restraint of commerce.

In America, the length of copyright protection has increased enormously over the past century, from around 28 years to as much as 95 years. The same trend can be seen in other countries. In June Britain signalled that it may extend its copyright term from 50 years to around 90 years.

This makes no sense.

Economist.com. Rip. Mix. Burn. June 30, 2005.

See also:

Katie Dean. Keeping Up With Uncle Sam. Wired News. June 10, 2005.