What is copyright?

At what lower term for copyright would we see little change in the profitability from holding a copyright?

• Outside of the corporate circles and Congress (and other governments), there seems to be a consensus that copyright expiration dates are too long. The Berne Convention brings most nations into a minimum term of 50 years plus life of author/creator. (25 years for a photograph; 50 for a movie.) Please pick one or more to discuss: Movies, TV, Recorded Music, Written Music, Books, Websites and Magazine Articles, Photography. Actual terms in most nations (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries'_copyright_length) are actually at 70+Life or 70-to-95 years for corporate owned works. How short are we able to cut this and still allow all but the long tail in profits from a copyright?

• Answer:

  Movies tend to make most of their money in the first year through a combination of box office, video on demand and initial DVD sales. This all peters off, with box office revenue only lasting that first year, internationally, and then basically being dead. So far the DVD industry is only 16 years old and online video streaming is even younger, so no telling how long that tail of income might be. But the revenue model for movies is shaped into release windows to maximize the income from any one revenue source. Theatric: 0 - 6 Months Video/DVD: 6 - 15 Months Pay Per View: 15 - 18 Months Pay TV: 18 - 30 Months Free TV: 30 + Months  ------------from: http://www.skillset.org/film/knowledge/article_5103_1.asp This suggests that once it hits ad-supported TV, there is are a few splashes of income from a TV deal, but only blockbusters can expect repeated play on the airwaves. In film, as with most copyright-based industries, it is the distributors that make the most money (about 53%), not the copyright holders. However that income is mostly received in the first three years. Creating a sequel can extend the aftermarkets for the film. And there is revenue to be earned from licensing a remake about 15-25 years later. But aside from a bump in sales associated with a remake spurring interest in the original, that seems to be about it for lifetime revenue. Copyright on movies could clearly drop to 25 years with no significant impact on the movie industry. Likely it could be dropped to five years which would protect nearly any work during the time period in which its sequels were still boosting revenue of the original.