The bıtter Irony of Copyrıght Laws

 

Imagine a scenario where an author toils away in obscurity, barely earning a penny from their writings during their lifetime. Despite being the creative genius behind a work that becomes a bestseller decades after their death, the author's heirs have no say in the copyright ownership. It may sound profoundly unjust, and that's because it is. Under current copyright laws, once an author passes away, their intellectual property falls into the public domain 70 years later. This means that expired works can be freely used without obtaining permission from the original author or their descendants. Copyright laws, though designed to protect creative individuals, can sometimes have unintended consequences. One such consequence is the expiration of copyright after an author's death. According to the current legal framework, an author's rights cease to exist 70 years after their demise. This means that even if their work becomes a literary sensation posthumously, their family or heirs have no authority over its copyright. Picture pouring your heart and soul into a book, only to see it gain recognition and immense popularity long after you've passed away and your child does not make money from it. Sounds cruel, doesn't it? 

As mentioned earlier, once the copyright term expires, anyone is free to publish a book without seeking permission from the original author or their heirs. This has led to a curious phenomenon where multiple publishers release the same book with different cover designs. Consequently, works like Stefan Zweig's novels can be found on bookstore shelves with various captivating covers. Antoine De Saint Exupery's' The Little Prince has become a ubiquitous presence, and Sabahattin Ali's works seem to grace every corner. It is already evident that several renowned Turkish authors will join the list of works awaiting their turn for publication as their copyrights expire. In 2024, we can expect Sait Faik Abasıyanık's works to be freely published, followed by Reşat Nuri Güntekin and Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı in 2026, Peyami Safa in 2031, Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar in 2032, and finally, Nazım Hikmet in 2033. 

In many countries, copyright laws typically extend for 70 years after the author's death, with a few exceptions made in the United States. No one is exempt from the reach of these laws. Remember how we knew Winnie the Pooh from our childhood? A lovable bear residing in the Hundred Acre Wood, with his closest friend Piglet, and an insatiable appetite for honey, right? Winnie the Pooh, a beloved character within Disney's catalog, ranked among the company's most profitable franchises. However, with the expiration of the copyright, the endearing bear Winnie has become a public domain character, free for use by companies other than Disney. This newfound freedom has given birth to an unexpected creation—an eerie Winnie the Pooh film. Imagine Winnie the Pooh now depicted with a bloodied axe in hand, starring in a horror movie. One can only wonder what the series' creator, A. A. Milne, would have thought. The prospect of the first independent project set in the world of Winnie the Pooh being a horror film is unsettling, especially after watching the trailer. It's enough to make A. A. Milne turned in his grave!