Spider Robinson wrote a short story about copyright in perpetuity. I can't remember the title. In the story, the wife of a famous song writer is lobbying against the idea, which surprises people. She points out that her husband realized his most famous song was built off a lullaby he'd heard as a child, and if works were copyrighted forever, then there was a good chance that the flow of ideas would eventually be choked off.

Nutty's correct on all counts - 1924 was the big divisive year, thanks to Der Maus. The big profitable estates and corps are really big on the "mine forever! mine! MINE!" school of copyright enforcement.

And when you use the IP word - "intellectual property" - cans of worms the size of Cthulu get opened.

The permission specialists are one way to go. It's a lot easier if you have an agent or publisher for your work already; as harrowing as trying to track down the niece of the second cousin twice removed/legatee of Millay's estate was (we were on publishing deadline, and she just stayed invisible for way longer than was comfortable), it would have been far worse without the official letterhead of Pan UK to back it up.

The big profitable estates and corps are really big on the "mine forever! mine! MINE!" school of copyright enforcement.

I always wondered where WB got that aspect of Daffy Duck's character.

I always wondered where WB got that aspect of Daffy Duck's character.

Heh. I seem to remember a small TV documentary on the history of the Warner Brothers cartoons, and the literaly loonytoons who came up with my favourite cartoon critters ever, and there was a lot of deep, deep digging at the Disney boys.

That whole copyright thing - bringing this even more firmly back on topic - is a lynchpin in Kavalier and Klay, as well.

God, that was good.(But now, stupid me, I'm wrestling with Infinite Jest which is making me feel like a cartoon of a blonde woman. But there are assassins in wheelchairs in it.)

But there are assassins in wheelchairs in it.

Dude, what's not to love?

Connie, I think the SR story you're thinking of is "Melancholy Elephants".

Mystery novel rec: Last weekend a friend of mine tormented me by reading a novel by Donald Westlake in front of me and giggling. When I finally wrenched Don't Ask from her hands, I loved it. Tonight I'll be heading to the library in the hopes of finding much much more by him.

Oh, gosh, Westlake is a scream. And, yes! That's the story. I knew it was something about elephants.

Hmmm. I was given Don't Ask for Christmas, and have tried three times to get into it. No luck so far.

Maybe I'll give it another pop.

I like it, but it's not so much like reading as translating, despite still being in English. And if nothing else, I will build upper body strength hefting it because even in paperback it's big and heavy.