Forever Minus a Day? Theory and Empirics of Optimal Copyright Term

Pollock, Rufus (2008): Forever Minus a Day? Theory and Empirics of Optimal Copyright Term.

Abstract

The optimal term of copyright has been a matter for extensive debate over the last decade. Using a simple model we characterise optimal term as a function of a few key parameters. We estimate this function using a combination of new and existing data on recordings and books and find an optimal term of around fifteen years. This is substantially shorter than any current copyright term and implies that existing copyright terms are too long.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Copyright; Intellectual Property; Copyright Term
• Subjects: O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O3 - Innovation ; Research and Development ; Technological Change ; Intellectual Property Rights > O34 - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital; L - Industrial Organization > L1 - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance > L10 - General; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O3 - Innovation ; Research and Development ; Technological Change ; Intellectual Property Rights > O31 - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives

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