This.
The Hole in our Collective Memory : How Copyright made Mid-Century Books Vanish
These are frightening numbers, and they should force us to consider the negative effects of longer copyright terms. The publication of knowledge and creativity blossomed during the 20th century, due in large part to the demands of an increasingly literate population. And which era of publication is suppressed due to Copyright?
One chart, and a fact derived from that chart drive the point home:
The fact derived from this chart? “A book published during the presidency of Chester A. Arthur has a greater chance of being in print today than one published during the time of Reagan.”
Copyright benefits neither author, publisher, nor society when books are out of print. This needs to change.
