Answer to Question #91080 in Microeconomics for Gill

Question

3. Copyright duration in Canada is the creator of the works lifetime, plus 50 years from the end of the calendar year that the creator died. Presumably, the copyright creates incentives to produce creative work (because the author or copyright holder receives the royalties for the use of the copyrighted materials). But the author obviously cannot keep receiving the royalty after he or she dies! Explain how extending the copyright protection beyond the author life creates the incentives to produce creative work.

Answer 1

Extending copyright protection beyond the author life permits heirs to benefit from the copyright hence encouraging more people to come up with creative work that will benefit not only the copyright holder but also the future generation.