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Sherlock Holmes belongs to the public, U.S. court rules

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It is often argued that a long copyright period is essential in order to encourage creators. However, it's unlikely that the 95 year copyright period will stimulate Conan Doyle to write more Sherlock Holmes stories. A ten year copyright period is sufficient; 95 years is nonsense and the result of bribes paid to lawmakers.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Scrote i agree and disagree, 10 years after the writers dead would be ok IMHO.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It wouldn't really interest me to read any book about a character not by the original author, but copyright laws extending past the death of said author are ridiculous. (can't blame the estate for trying though)

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I just hope it doesn't end up as in the comics, specially DC and Marvel.... They just revamp, reset, re-do... and tell and retell the story of the same superheros over and over again, never to create a new hero, never to continue in a world where the hero has retired and there is no need for him to come back, since there are other.. or there is a continuation...

Note.. I do like Batman and Spiderman... but I really think that the heroes need to get on with their lives. A story is fun because there is a beginning and an end.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think if I was responsible for the estate of Conan Doyle I would be on the phone to these upstart American judges and giving them merry hell. So does that mean I can write a novel about Tom Sawyer as a terrorist enlisted by the US President to rid America of zombie nuns?

Giving hack authors a free ride by using existing characters without paying a penny for them is just fan fiction without fear of being sued or having to pay for a licence. Hmm... Sherlock Holmes and the Zombie Nuns from Mars. What Watson Did Next. On the Fiddle with Sherlock Holmes... ahh, I can see them all now. Stand by for an avalanche of rubbish that'll have Sir Arthur turning in his grave.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

So does that mean I can write a novel about Tom Sawyer as a terrorist enlisted by the US President to rid America of zombie nuns?

Yes, in a free society you are allowed to write (almost) any crap you like. Just because the author might start to spin in his grave doesn't mean we should put limits to free expression.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

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