Yes Juan. Would you like the college word for it? Post-Modernism. Every 10 year old knows that you can salute and be inspired by another body of work, without outright stealing it, so why do you base your argument on ignoring this concept?

While I have no problem with someone tipping their hat to my stories in their own body of work, it’s something entirely different for them to say they have just as much claim to my work as my future heirs.

While you must be very proud of that fine written post of yours, it bears little relevance to what we’ve been discussing here.

Show me the artist, screenwriter, novelist, poet, etc., etc. who produces truly 100% original work that *never* references or builds upon something that someone else has created before. Does such a creature even exist?

There seems to be this reaction that the public domain is somehow communistic/socialistic. Far from it. It’s capitalism, pure and simple. What protections does your creative work have without copyright law? Go to any communist/socialist country and see — piracy and copyright infringement are rampant.

What copyright law in the U.S. provides you is a contract with the government. You produce an original creative work and you are allowed to profit from it for a proscribed period of time. Sure you may argue with the amount of time (which is what Disney and others are doing by pushing for the period to be extended, ad infinitum), but can you not recognize that without a creative commons for artists to draw upon, further creativity and innovation is ultimately stifled?

There seems to be the attitude that modern society and culture exists in some kind of vacuum. That it just sprung up and owes nothing to what came before it, nor anything to future generations. This from people living in the United States of America, which has contributed to and profited from the public domain probably more than any other country in the world? Unbelievable.

I’m referring to the money thing. If my dad dies, you are saying I shouldn’t get his money, that’s only one generation – and I quote –
“Exactly my point YOU didn’t work for it so YOU don’t get it.” I would like to know where you think it should go. If it should go to others, aren’t you also giving them something they didn’t work for?
I will blog this today at somepoint.

Like I said I’m not qualified to say when it should run out, I’m just saying you can’t own in forever, and yes physical property is different than written words, music and ideas. Yes go for creating your own blog.

Hey Gray – answer the question. Hmmm, may be I should continue on my view points on my blog. C gave me a lot of good stuff to add yesterday.

ANSWER THE QUESTION

but, once he is dead, who do you say should get it? It belongs to the family, or to whomever he leaves it to in his will, which with some family, may not be the family.

>>If my dad worked his rear off or creates something, why shouldn’t I get to live off that income?

Exactly my point YOU didn’t work for it so YOU don’t get it.

Wow, nice reading. Being an artist, I have to side with Cocles, for the most part. If I create something, it should be allowed to stay in my family for as long as my family desires. How is that different then the diamond ring or Limoge that has been handed down through my family? Just because it’s been 100 years someone can get it? Sorry, I’m not seeing a difference. If I created it with my own mind or hands, it seems it would be owned even more so by my family. And it would be up to us how we wanted to share it with the world. And if they want to and I haven’t stated otherwise in the will (which would only carry to one generation as far as I know) they can turn around and sell it or market it anyway they wish. That’s their choice.

And as far as inheriting money, so what. If my dad worked his rear off or creates something, why shouldn’t I get to live off that income? Where should it go to the public or the government to fund programs for people who have never worked a hard day in their life and just want hand outs? Now, that said, having been one of those “rich kids” I will always make my kids work in some form or fashion for the learning experience and responsiblity that comes with it. Does that mean I won’t buy them a new beamer if I can afford it? No way, as long as they are being responsible citizens. And just b/c we used to live off daddy’s money doesn’t mean that all of us now sit on our butts and do nothing.

That’s just it though. Dr. Seuss’s wife owns those rights, so it is none of our business what she does with them.

It is her choice to market her late husband’s work, just as it is your choice to not allow your descendents to sit on your laurels.

The key word here, of course, is choice.

It’s fine for you to feel the way you do, but not okay to force those views on other people with arbitrary guidelines and rules.

A creator should be allowed to do whatever he wants with his own creation.

It is the creators business.

It is the creators choice.

Not ours.