Public Domain Enhancement Act

Lessig on the move with an interesting public domain initiative:

We have launched a petition to build support for the Public Domain Enhancement Act. That act would require American copyright holders to pay $1 fifty years after a work was published. If they pay the $1, the copyright continues. If they don’t, the work passes into the public domain. Historical estimates would suggest 98% of works would pass into the pubilc domain after 50 years. The Act would do a great deal to reclaim a public domain.

This proposal has received a great deal of support. It is now facing some important lobbyists’ opposition. We need a public way to begin to demonstrate who the lobbyists don’t speak for. This is the first step.

If you are an ally in at least this cause, please sign the petition…

$1 is hardly requiring copyright holders to jump through flaming hoops to retain their copyright, yet even this nominal requirement would greatly increase the vibrancy of the public domain. It’s a great idea.