[Coco] Republishing Magazines

[Theodore Evans (Alex)]

On Dec 28, 2003, at 4:22 AM, jdaggett at gate.net wrote:

> It is my guess that Congress made copywrights and author protection 70 
> years was
> to give the full measure of life of a writer. Suppose he wrote a novel 
> when young.
> This would ensure that his work was copyrighted for his life or most 
> of it.

The period is life plus 70 years or 90 years for works for hire.  The 
original period in our first copyright law was 14 years plus the 
ability to renew for another 14 years.

> Yes Congress has the power to change how long the copyrights are, but 
> not restrict
> the rights of protection to the author.

While the Constitution mandates the creation of copyright and patent 
law, it says very little about the nature of that law other that that 
it should grant the creator some exclusive rights, and that they should 
be of limited duration.