Originally Posted By: 90 dB

Why should Yoko Ono receive royalties for Lennon's work? After all, she didn't write it, and he's been dead for 34 years.


The copyright laws originally did intend to provide some income to two generations of heirs. After all, if one learns a craft, gets self-employed, hires hands to work for him/her. This achievement can be transfered to heirs, why should a song be treated differently than a, e.g. plumbing shop?

But in many instances somebody else, often a company, buys the rights to songs and makes more money than the intended circle of persons. And I have knowledge of labels who force writers of songs to transfer their rights to them or their songs will not be recorded or, if already recorded, not be published.

There is something wrong with the current system, be it in the US or in Germany.

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