by kidkoala on 2006/12/15 11:26:44
but on my escom-disks it says "copyright from 1995-2000" or something, doesn't that mean copyright for my disks aren't copyrighted anymore cause escom doesn't own the rights?
I am not a lawyer, but I believe those dates are the dates that the copyright was last renewed. Once the copyright is renewed, it extends farther into the future than those dates.
Besides, even if the dates on your disk label were the PERIOD of the copyright, the copyright was probably renewed by its holder after 2001. You would have to look into it to know for sure.
I don't know about software, but for books, music and works of art the copyright lasts something like 50 years....and in other cases it can be renewed indefinitely (like with Disney characters & the character of Sherlock Holmes - it remains with the corporation or estate long after the death of the original creators). In the case of computer software I'm sure it is retained with who ever buys the rights from the company when it folds.
When you buy a set of disks, a CD, etc. you do not buy rights to the MUSIC/SOFTWARE etc. You buy a user's liscence. i.e. you have a LISENCE (the right) to listen, use & make a personal backup of the media in question. You do NOT own the intellectual material and have NOT bought a lisence to make copies.
If you chuck the original media (i.e. the original discs) I believe you are then throwing away your liscence as well. You cannot legally retain and use copies or keep a backup.
I realise the above is theoretical, and could never be enforced legally. But that's the way a court would look at it.