Copyright terms extending to life-plus-50 years lock cultural material away from reuse for decades after an author's death

Under the US Copyright Act of 1976, protection for works by individuals lasts the life of the author plus 50 years (later extended to 70 by the Sonny Bono Act of 1998). Corporate works receive a flat term of 75 years from publication. Long copyright terms privilege large rights-holders (estates, corporations) who can enforce claims, while restricting individual artists who cannot afford litigation. The film quotes a lawyer making the point through absurdity: with eternal copyright, Beethoven would be tied up in licensing disputes forever. The entry into public domain is the only moment when cultural material becomes freely buildable-upon without permission.

Examples

A 1940 corporate-owned film is protected for 75 years — cannot be freely sampled until 2015. An independent musician who died at 50 in 1980 has work protected until 2030. Beethoven in the public domain: freely adaptable; a 1960s pop song: still under copyright.

Assessment

Calculate when a 1990 corporate-owned album enters the public domain under the 1976 Act terms, and explain why the 2 Live Crew ruling does not resolve the Negativland situation.