I don't think it would have that much of an effect. I mean, if Sherlock Holmes is in the public domain, why isn't every studio making films about the character? We might get a few unnofical ones here and there, but I don't think it would have a major effect on the official series. I'd like to see Amazon or Netflix do a big budget series. Each episode based on a novel, but close adaptations. I mean, you could do so much with Bond.
Also why can't copyright be passed on to future generations ? Or maybe it can
Copyright can be assigned to others, including the author's estate. But the duration of copyright does not change - assignment of copyright does not 'reset the clock' so to speak. It expires (in Australia) 70 years after the death of the author, regardless of who owns copyright at the time.
As I've mentioned in the times before when this topic came up, is I'd love for an actual lawyer to chime in, particularly one specializing in copyright law or maybe even entertainment law if that's applicable. Otherwise, I'm afraid our speculations might fall miles apart from the practical realities of this topic.
I think the article Barbel linked to pretty much sums up the complexities with respect to this subject. There isn't just one set of rights associated with creating new Bond media; there are multiple different rights, with multiple different owners and multiple different expiry dates to consider.
I practise in intellectual property law, but law differs from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. What may be law here in Australia is not necessarily so in Canada or the United States, but I believe the general principles of copyright would be quite similar between Berne Convention countries.
Comments
Copyright can be assigned to others, including the author's estate. But the duration of copyright does not change - assignment of copyright does not 'reset the clock' so to speak. It expires (in Australia) 70 years after the death of the author, regardless of who owns copyright at the time.
I think the article Barbel linked to pretty much sums up the complexities with respect to this subject. There isn't just one set of rights associated with creating new Bond media; there are multiple different rights, with multiple different owners and multiple different expiry dates to consider.
I practise in intellectual property law, but law differs from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. What may be law here in Australia is not necessarily so in Canada or the United States, but I believe the general principles of copyright would be quite similar between Berne Convention countries.