One of the arguments against extended copyright terms, made in Eldred and other places, has been the charge that there are piles of books, films, etc., moldering away unseen because no one can get permission to look at them and the copyright holders are too oblivious to find and exploit useful items.

But in truth film copyright holders seem to be pretty diligent is panning their slag for gold. Search Amazon for "50 movie pack" and you get 16 possiblities, for History, Dark Crimes, Drive-In Movies, Chills, Martial Arts, Westerns, Hollywood Legends, Comedy, Horror, Mystery, War, Musicals, Action, SciFi, Family, and (a special bonus) 100 Cartoon Classics. And each at a price of $16.47, less than $0.30 per movie.

Furthermore, as noted on Crooked Timber, where I found this information, and in a fine example of market/community symbiosis, "some intrepid/damned soul has reviewed every single item in the SF-50 pack."

Would such treasures be available if there were no money to be made from making them so? Doubtful. Or perhaps only after an extended grant review process at some foundation; I can see it now -- $50K for a thesis on "Stirrings of Semiotic Democracy in Santa Claus Conquers the Martians."

posted by James DeLong @ 4:04 PM | Markets: Business, Investment & Innovation

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