Copyright protection period of Chaplin movies still valid

Friday 09th October, 03:00 AM JST

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13 Comments

KallyPygous at 08:37 AM JST - 9th October

In 2015 there will be lots of Chaplin clips popping up all over the place - in music videos, adverts (probably for insurance), other movies...
chuckers at 10:55 AM JST - 9th October

For that matter, why the apparently arbitrary numbers like "33" and "38"?
gogogo at 11:10 AM JST - 9th October

The two DVD producers said the copyright protection period has already expired, arguing it should be considered to last 33 years as the copyright is held by a film company, not by Chaplin.

That is correct, the copyright only transfers to the artist or actor in this case IF the company goes bankrupt.
timorborder at 11:29 AM JST - 9th October

Why was there a court case? If these companies were intent on selling such products to which potentially there was a copyright attached, why didn't they consult the statutes already on the books?
RandomTask at 12:27 PM JST - 9th October

Insane. Having these long copyright periods is not productive. 50 years is more than enough.
larguero at 01:04 PM JST - 9th October

The holders argue that it is 38 years from the death of Chaplin and the others, 33 years I dont know from when. Does anyone know?
cadmium at 02:10 PM JST - 9th October

Interesting fact: the West knows him as "Charlie" Chaplin, but in Japan he is known as "Charles" Chaplin.
IvanCoughalot at 04:13 PM JST - 9th October

The most overrated thing since white bread.
Tommygun at 04:43 PM JST - 9th October

The greatest thing since white bread.
benhur at 09:38 PM JST - 9th October

i love white bread.
Fadamor at 10:40 PM JST - 9th October

I believe the 38 year stipulation after death ensures that any of Chaplin's offspring will have probably died as well (though I thought it was actually 40 years). The main reason for this was diaries and written works by the author which may cause embarrassment if released into the public domain while the offspring are still around.

Seeing as many corporations never really "die" and don't have offspring, their protection is shorter and tied to the creation date of the work rather than the death of the author.
Fadamor at 10:41 PM JST - 9th October

AND... I just realized I'm spouting off about the copyright rules in the U.S. Sumimasen. Japan's are probably different and for different reasons.
Yelnats at 01:33 PM JST - 12th October

I like Japanese white bread.