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States. It is ironic that this great country that has spawned cultural treasures unsurpassed in the world should deny the creators of these treasures, protections commensurate with those offered in virtually every democratic nation in the world. The intent of our copyright laws is to encourage creativity by guaranteeing the protection for the life of the creator plus two generations of his or her successors. My own situation illustrates all too clearly how this intent is not currently being satisfiecL I began writing songs as a young man back in 1948. Like so many people today, I have been blessed with children later in my life— indeed more than 45 years after 1 published my fiirst song. 1 believe that my children are entitled to the same rights with respect to my songs as the children of yesteryear bom to parents in their twenties. Today people have a greater life-expectancy and begin families in their thirties and forties. Such societal changes necessitate a revision of our current laws.
The alternative to copyright protection is, of course, that works will fall into the public domain. While the term "public domain" implies that the ultimate public, the consumer, wiU have free and easy access to creative works, this is really not the case. The price of a quality compact disc recording of Beethoven is no less expensive than the price of a Pearl Jam CD. The record company that manufactures the CD does not have to pay royalties to the Beethoven estate and these cost savings are not passed on to the consumer. Similarly, the price of a quality paperback by Henry James is no less than the price of the latest John Grisham release The book publisher does not need to pay royalties to the Henry James estate, and again this is not reflected in the cost of the book to the public.
My songs are my legacy to my children. Because my pre1978 works, which represent at least 40% of my catalogue, are only protected for a fixed term of 75 years from registration, my catalogue will begin to fall into the public domain when my youngest child is only 30 years old. Without an extension of the current copyright period, my children my most immediate successors will be deprived of their legacy from me while they are still young adults. I have no desire to see my children be denied that which 1 intended for them.
Fortunately, I have written well over 400 songs in my lifetime. But we must not forget that there are many songwriter/ musicians, particularly blues and jazz musicians who support themselves and their families on the royalties earned from the three or four songs that they composed. An extended term of copyright will make an acute difference in the quality of life for these artists. An extension in the term of copyright would also benefit
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