Here's what the Constitution says: Article I Section 8. Clause 8 – Patent and Copyright Clause of the Constitution. [The Congress shall have power] “To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries.”
So, what is a "limited" time? The current trend seems to be toward considering any mathematically finite number of years to be "limited". A hundred, a thousand, a million, a billion, a googol (10 ^ 100), a googolplex (10 ^ 10 ^ 100) — these are all finite numbers.
I would argue that the Constitution was written by and for human beings, and therefore "limited" means "limited on a human timescale", and therefore the upper limit should be about half a mean human lifetime. Certainly, if a typical human can be born after a copyright is established, and live their life and die before it terminates, in their experience that's effectively an unlimited duration.
Quoting corrupt congresswoman Mary Bono: "Actually, Sonny wanted the term of copyright protection to last forever. I am informed by staff that such a change would violate the Constitution. I invite all of you to work with me to strengthen our copyright laws in all of the ways available to us. As you know, there is also Jack Valenti's proposal for term to last forever less one day. Perhaps the Committee may look at that next Congress."
They want copyright forever. They have the entitlement to think it should be forever.
Since those in power no longer respect it being for a limited time, I put forth the "exclusive rights" should not be respected either. I do not consider or respect any copyrights held by Mary Bono as a result.
So, what is a "limited" time? The current trend seems to be toward considering any mathematically finite number of years to be "limited". A hundred, a thousand, a million, a billion, a googol (10 ^ 100), a googolplex (10 ^ 10 ^ 100) — these are all finite numbers.
I would argue that the Constitution was written by and for human beings, and therefore "limited" means "limited on a human timescale", and therefore the upper limit should be about half a mean human lifetime. Certainly, if a typical human can be born after a copyright is established, and live their life and die before it terminates, in their experience that's effectively an unlimited duration.