I tend to agree considering the current broken state of law, though I think the "middlemen, speculators, and lawyers" is the real crux of the problem here, so take that out of the equation and I'm actually fine with a perpetual copyright for the life of the author - as long as he's still selling the original work. Revised editions don't count, and no transferring to other parties. (but feel free to license exclusive rights to a big company while you're alive)
I tend to agree considering the current broken state of law, though I think the "middlemen, speculators, and lawyers" is the real crux of the problem here, so take that out of the equation and I'm actually fine with a perpetual copyright for the life of the author - as long as he's still selling the original work. Revised editions don't count, and no transferring to other parties. (but feel free to license exclusive rights to a big company while you're alive)
There's no such thing as taking reality out of the equation.
That's why you draft laws while taking into consideration how it could be abused.
Murphy's Law and all that.
Just make it a set number of years.
Making it for the life of the author means that amoral "middlemen, speculators, and lawyers" would just kill you if it's cheaper than licensing.