A public domain work is an orphan. No one is responsible for its life. But everyone exploits its use, until that time certain when it becomes soiled and haggard, barren of its previous virtues. How does the consumer benefit from the steady decline of a film's quality?
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Valenti suggests that without ongoing oversight, public domain works decay in quality and lose their value over time.
- In plain terms
- Public domain works get neglected and degrade.
- What can you take from it?
- Unprotected works may lose quality without responsibility.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who should maintain old works?
- Is preservation the public's job?
Another view
Preservation is not always feasible or prioritized for old works.
More from Jack Valenti
Copyright term extension has a simple but compelling enticement: it is very much in America's economic interests.
Permalink to quote #22 I wasn't opposed to the VCR. The MPAA tried to establish by law that the VCR was infringing on copyright. Then we would go to the Congress and get a copyright …
Permalink to quote #24 My own home, we do it in our on home. I know about that. Anybody that has a VCR, talk to them, and I ask you to use your own commonsense... If you had the powe…
Permalink to quote #21
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