As an author myself, I think that copyrighted works need to be protected and the authors' compensated 
But you know that copyright terms have been extended and extended again since the original copyright act of 1790.
http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1a.html
go near the end of that page for details
It used to be 14 years, with a 14 year renewal.
Then 28 years, with a 14 year renewal.
Then 28 years with a 28 year renewal.
Then the life of the author plus 50 years after that.
Then life plus 70 years.
I think that this is a real shame since I think it can stifle creativity. One could argue that the copyright should be a shorter term now in the information age than in 1790.
And who holds the copyright? Usually not the author, but the distributor is assigned the copyright by the author, because they control everything and it won't go anywhere without it.
So, I think what we are witnessing is the thrashing of a failing revenue model. MPAA can still get the government to go after players that don't follow the rules so the distributor is not shut out of their cut. Those are the rules, and that is fine. But--who do you think help make those new sets of rules, particularly the time extensions
Anyway, my main concern was that I hope no one lost assets due to them being shut down.
(It really bugs me when filefront loses stuff. I encourage anyone that make models or assets to upload them here. After my initial 3-year lease on this website is up, I plan to renew it for (at least) another 10. Even if we are all long gone from SWBF, your content will be available for a long time. )
But you know that copyright terms have been extended and extended again since the original copyright act of 1790.
http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1a.html
go near the end of that page for details
It used to be 14 years, with a 14 year renewal.
Then 28 years, with a 14 year renewal.
Then 28 years with a 28 year renewal.
Then the life of the author plus 50 years after that.
Then life plus 70 years.
I think that this is a real shame since I think it can stifle creativity. One could argue that the copyright should be a shorter term now in the information age than in 1790.
And who holds the copyright? Usually not the author, but the distributor is assigned the copyright by the author, because they control everything and it won't go anywhere without it.
So, I think what we are witnessing is the thrashing of a failing revenue model. MPAA can still get the government to go after players that don't follow the rules so the distributor is not shut out of their cut. Those are the rules, and that is fine. But--who do you think help make those new sets of rules, particularly the time extensions
Anyway, my main concern was that I hope no one lost assets due to them being shut down.
(It really bugs me when filefront loses stuff. I encourage anyone that make models or assets to upload them here. After my initial 3-year lease on this website is up, I plan to renew it for (at least) another 10. Even if we are all long gone from SWBF, your content will be available for a long time.
)
)
