He was born before copyright laws existed. He had no known offspring. Your use of him shows that you are exceedingly unreasonable on this subject. Try reading the link I posted. See what the actual laws are rather than your straw man.There are descendants and relatives of William Shakespeare living in UK and maybe all over the world.
For the umpteenth time. Disney was an example but is not involved in the suite.
Could you possibly find something a tad less relevant to use as a straw man. Perhaps cave paintings? They are often quite stunning and equally unrelated to the discussion.All publishing houses should pay royalties to all those families and relatives of ALL dead artists, not only those who were lucky to twist the laws in their favor in past 50 years.
Actually I pointed out that they changed. Try reading what I post. Not some straw version. You seem to have problem parsing what I write since you DID notice that I mentioned the law change so why the ridiculous claim that I am unaware?You are talking like the laws wouldn't/couldn't change.
"The corner stone, the base of the law - "lex retro non agit" ("law isn't retroactive") apparently doesn't work here if 70 years later the same work is still copyrighted. "
You don't fully understand what you just wrote. Laws are OFTEN retroactive. What isn't legal in the US is laws to make an action that occurred in the past illegal retroactively and then throw the person in jail. That is what is unconstitutional.
For instance, if you had set off fireworks in a city where it was legal a few hours ago and then six months from now the city changed the law, that law could not be applied to you. This concept is not a base of law. Its a base of US law.
While it seems it could apply to the case of old movies the Supreme Court clearly disagrees. Copyright laws are not quite the same thing as a law against doing things, like murder or adulterating food. Its a concept that is intended to protect commerce. It does not make past actions illegal. Nor is the law retroactive. Movies and books that are out of copyright remain out of copyright even though the present law would allow them to continue in copyright for a longer total time now. Think of it as an extension rather than retroactive since that is clearly what the legal system thinks of it as.
Oh, just to be pedantic Fantasia is 68 years old not 70. And the last person just died. In much of the world that would have allowed the movie to remain copyrighted for another 50 years or more except that it is subject to corporate duration and not an individual creators duration.
Well something is twisted there. You are having extreme difficulty with the concept. The present US laws are the way they are largely to match the Berne Convention. If Fantasia was subject to the original laws its copyright would have expired in 1996. Twelve years ago. If it had been made in many countries besides the US it would still be under copyright even without the changes in the law. Its not an accident that many movies have non-US copyrights even though they were made by US companies. I watch movies till the screen goes black and the lights come up.That's right, it IS copyright violation according to current twisted and corrupted laws!
Its amazing just how irrational people can behave when someone points out something they don't like. I really don't appreciate that sort of vile insult. If you don't like what I have to say then either ignore it or write something relevant. Do not engage in ad hominym attacks. Its a sure sign that a person has nothing to support their position.Slaves were lawfully and legal bought, traded and bred. If people were like you, they would have never got rid of slavery since it was THE LAW!
In case you missed it, I pointed out that the laws can be changed. Yes, thats right, laws can be changed. Talk to your representative. If you don't like the law it not my fault. I didn't make them yet you act as if I am solely responsible. You also deliberately avoid the whole point that the thread was about Viacom and not Disney. Despite my pointing it out several times.
So since you find me personally responsible when can I expect your firebomb? I recommend naptha as it is very popular with movie pyrotechnicians. Gasoline has so many nasty additives.
