To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors ...

[Spock]

With healthcare, immigration and consumer protection reform likely to be off the congressional agenda for the time being, now would seem to be a good time to revisit the thorny question of copyright reform.

Arthur Conan Doyle, the writer of the Sherlock Holmes stories, died in 1930 some 80 years ago yet his work hasn't passed into the public domain. Holmes first appeared in print in 1887 so the author had plenty of time to profit from his work during his lifetime.

The New York Times has an interesting article on the current position. "There are now nine surviving Conan Doyle heirs, and none is a direct descendant of the author."

So tell me again, how is this promoting the progress of science and useful arts? Wouldn't now be a good time to lobby your congress whore to reform copyright.

[cbelt3]

Alas, follow the money. The US government has been using intellectual property rights as a big hammer in trade negotiations. After all....

If you don't manufacture ANYTHING, what value do you add ?

"Designed in the US, manufactured anywhere else but here"

[Sam3]

Unless you get the populace to teabag, carpetbag or otherbag, i.e. get riled up about it, then nothing will happen. The opposite will happen, Disney will throw lots of money in the direction of policymakers and ask for a copyright extension when Steamboat Willie comes up for public domain inclusion, and they will essentially be granted a perpetual copyright. Say goodbye to the public domain as we know it.