DTC 356 Lessig 213-234

In this portion of Lessig, the problem of Congress extending Copyright laws indefinitely is discussed in depth.
This problem, as outlined, only benefits a small percentage of Copyright holders and otherwise assures the majority of copyrighted works will be forgotten.

The issue lies in the form that the materials are currently being held under copyright, and the lack of ability to track down and obtain permission from those who hold the copyright.

In essence, only a few works have any commercial worth at the end of their copyright life (in fact most stop gaining revenue after their first year). But because of the money that is still being made from a few works, the holders of those copyrights pour their money into campaigns for people in congress who will extend copyrights. When the law goes through to extend the Copyright, all the works that aren't making any revenue (98% from the text), are going to be destroyed due to the wear of time on print materials.


Problems in this issue lay in the loss of records of our culture, Congress being bribed, Congress having too much power, and interference with creativity and derivitive works.


I think this problem is in a way related to the 1%, where the people with the money can make the decisions because politics is about pouring money into campaigns more than individuals. The same money = power factor is in play in this Copyright law extension situation.

-Thomas Holland