Some wacky kids at the Stamford Fair Use Project use “snippets” of Disney films to explain copyright and fair use. Obviously, the kids are not big fans of copyright law, but does their scorn for extended copyright terms mean they really want US law to go back to the original 14 year term?

Geez, I hope not.

Anyway, this is a wonderfully fun parody, and there is no niftier irony than using Disney characters to comment on copyright use and the extended limits that many people blame on the Disney Corp. The 100 year term is described as “forever” in the film. I’d argue that 100 years isn’t “forever” by any reasonable definition, though I’d just as soon argue that I am not sure at all what a fair limit ought to be.

You’ll love this, and it’s educational, too.

If copyright was 14 years now, I would have lost copyright on the beginning of A Distant Soil before I finished it.

Our Founding Fathers had some pretty wonky ideas about property rights, which is why Thomas Jefferson liked the idea of a 14 year limited term on exclusive copyrights on the creations of one’s own hands, yet saw nothing wrong with owning human beings their entire life.

Thank you, Mr. Cognitive Disconnect.

I wish people would stop using this absurd logical fallacy of appeal to authority, especially in the case of our Founding Fathers who could not have forseen film, television, print on demand, or the internet.

But it is a great cartoon, isn’t it?

This item was posted at the old blog. Allan Harvey added the following:

I have a friend who argues that copyright should be for life only, and not extend beyond the death of the author. Children and future descendants should not, he contends, benefit from creativity that was not theirs. While I can see his point, I don’t necessarily agree.

Personally, I don’t have any problem with Disney owning their characters in perpetuity. Seems perfectly fair to me.

In case anyone was wondering, here’s what a real Russet Noon looks like.

Russet potatoes growing in tubs photographed at high noon.

Here are our previous posts about Russet Noon. And here is Peter David’s spoof-o-rama in progress.

But back to my potatoes. Here they are backed by a curtain of wysteria. Ah, lovely.

Behold, the menfolk arrive to build my greenhouse.

In the parenthetical aside department, my life seems more hobbit than elf, eh? With a generous side dressing of cow manure.

c

PS: Yes, I am working on all my new books. That is why I don’t blog as much as I used to.

Hit TOP (above) to return to the webcomic.

Yes, I am still working on A Distant Soil, I swear to God. But paying work (well, the kind of work that pays good money, that is) comes first.

I will try to have more info about the Lord of the Rings exhibit and concert soon. Still exchanging emails about details. Yes, I will have never-before-seen work on display. And be sure to stop by The One Ring.net and wish everyone a Happy Anniversary!

I’ve gotten a few emails from folks who wonder why they can’t find articles on this blog on Google or Yahoo. I’m afraid the blog migration and move to a new server completely blitzed our stat rankings and wiped out our search history.

You can find any of our the important info posts by hitting one of those handy tabs at right. Please bookmark and most importantly, please share with your fellow creators.

Here is the original link to the article on graphic novel agents with dozens listed and lots o’ links.:

A Distant Soil Blog: Graphic Novel Agents.

And for extras:

Neil Gaiman’s Blog: Everything you wanted to know about literary agents.

Insurance Resources below:

A Distant Soil article on health insurance for artists with many links.

The Artists Health Insurance Resource Network.

The United States Federation of Small Businesses.

The Craft Council.

The Fireman’s Fund.

Insurance Rating. Get financial stat rankings on insurance companies here.

A Distant Soil blog: Home Office insurance and licensing info.