Realistic laws are more likely to be respected and followed

[ericanthem]

What I mean by realistic is once a song has been out there a while, it's time to get over yourself and let it go. Copyrights should last 7, maybe 10 years then the music should become public domain. In such a case as a society we can then appeal to people's sense of decency and right-n-wrong with a notion of "artists have to eat" but also people will recognize that royalties are limited and it's not like you have to wait forever. People will be able to differentiate between being asked to buy "the white album" for the fifth time and buying something that came out a week ago.
As of now they're basically the same - you are asked to pay across the board - people then respond across the board. if I could download the older music legally and free, I'd be much more likely to pay for new music. I wouldn't associate being jacked for the third time for "thriller" with buying nickleback. The resentment wouldn't flow over, or whatever. the point is, for whatever reason, it would f'in work.