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But, basically, what the Constitution says about public benefit, because the idea being, then, after so many years then the whole public gets to share it — ^you're saying that that's not true; that what they had in mind when they wrote that in the Constitution isn't what's happening in today's real world. So I think that that's a very interesting point.
I think the other point is we in this country tend to have cornered the creative market, not totally cornered it, but we have a phenomenal amount of creativity generating out of here. And if after a smaller number of years than in other countries people can pick that up freely in their country and use it, that that's also harming this country, where the creators are more apt to live. I don't know how you break that out, but I think I've seen numbers showing we've got more creative little minds living here on this continent than we have in other places.
Mr. Jones. We do, and I think it's very ironic that, with the 400or 500-year history of western music, out of all the possibilities — bagpipes, kabuki, string quartets, et cetera — that the youth of the entire planet have made the decision to adopt our music as their esperanto, all over the world. And it always fascinates me to go to these places, even Tahiti, and hear the same records that you hear in New York City. It's one of the most powerful exports that we have.
Mrs. SCHROEDER. Well, just remember what Tip O'Neill said, though, that the Irish gave the bagpipes to the Scotch as a joke and they never figured it out. They thought it was real. [Laughter.]
But, no, we thank you very, very much for being here this morning
Mr. Jones. Thank you.
Mrs. SCHROEDER [continuing]. And appreciate your insight.
Mr. MOORHEAD. The gentleman from Virginia.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Jones, we're honored to have you here with us today.
I want to comment on Martin's comment about why not forever. Martin neglected to state that he's an accomplished musician and pianist in his own right, and I'm sure he's happy to support this legislation so long as your sheet music will remain competitively priced so he can get it. [Laughter.]
In asking that very question, I support this legislation. I think the extension is important to protect you and others who are creators of wonderful works, and we want to encourage that creation by allowing you get to just recompense for your work, and I think that that ought to carry on for your children and your grandchildren as well.
I think the reason why not forever is that at some point in time — family trees tend to go like this [indicating], and at some point in time the number of ancestors of a great — I don't know how many Tolstoy has out there today, but if they all had to get together and agree on how to handle the rights to his works, it might have at some point in time a stifling effect on the ability to promote great works of past centuries, rather than a positive effect, which I think it does for the immediate ancestors.
I wonder if you have any comments on that thought.