In a message dated 7/1/2006 1:55:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time, doncox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
On 30/06/06, steven c wrote:
Hmmm - maybe there is a real 'forever' in this business. As things are going, perhaps we should coin a new slogan: Music copyright is forever.
1) Well, I have shellac discs approaching their first century that show no visible signs of degradation! Of course, "forever" for a shellac record implies it isn't dropped, stepped on, immersed in water for any significant length of time, exposed to ambient temperatures above about 120 degrees F or contacted by any alcohols...
Much the same as books. I have plenty of books that are well over 100 years old and still fully functional.
2) "Music copyright is forever" seems, so far, to apply only to the USA (though RRIA would like to see at least world-wide applicability, with that extending into outer space as necessary?!). In any case, it can only last as long as the US does (will the radioactive mutant cockroaches be able to play sound recordings eventually...?!)
The longevity of 78s and that of cockroaches is a worthy topic, since the
shellac of the former is from a distent relative of the latter.
Don Chichester