Japan to extend copyright period on works including novel, paintings to 70 years

[infodocket]

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/12/10/national/japan-extend-copyright-period-works-including-novels-paintings-70-years-dec-30/

[deogeo]

When was the last time a country reduced the duration of copyright?

With very few exceptions, the profit a work brings falls quickly after publishing. So copyright isn't being extended so much to preserve the profits from existing works - it's to keep those works from competing with new ones. Literally taking from the public to create demand.

[x220 → deogeo]

When was the last time a government gave up power?

[mattchamb]

As someone who is trying to use Aozora Bunko to get practice material for learning japanese, this saddens me.

https://www.aozora.gr.jp

[claudiawerner → mattchamb]

This looks really cool, makes me want to get my motivation back for learning Japanese again.

[mattchamb → claudiawerner]

I don't have a link atm, but the whole site is available as a github repo if you are interested in a local copy.

[pasbesoin → mattchamb]

http://darthcrimson.org/digital-japanese-literature-aozora-b...

https://github.com/aozorabunko/aozorabunko

~1.7 GB, as served as a zip file by Github.