Copyright Term Reversion and the 'Use-It-Or-Lose-It' Principle

Abstract

This brief article makes an argument for the use of the legal technique of term reversion, as a means for bringing unexploited works back into use, and mitigating the undesirable effects of the excessive term of copyright protection. It is proposed to legislate a simple rule that copyright interests will be transferable only for an initial term of ten years, after which they will fall back to the creator. If carefully implemented, the rule is compatible with the current constraints of international and EU law. By stimulating artist led innovation, term reversion may also improve the financial position of creators.

Keywords: copyright, copyright term, term reversion

JEL Classification: O34, K11