What does reinstating expired copyrights have to do with the blackout period
except to remove stuff from the public domain so it can re-enter the public
domain again? In short: remove something from the public domain to create the
illusion of something entering.
The "blackout period" I spoke of has to
do with logic. A simple scenario to show the concept:
Let's say the
copyright period is 5 years, and every year, 50 books are produced.
1950: 50
books, expire 1955
1951: 50 books, expire 1956
1952: 50 books,
expire 1957
1953: 50 books, expire 1958
1954: 50 books, expire
1959
1955: 50 books, expire 1960, 50 books enter pd from 1950 (public
domain)
In 1956, copyright law is extended to 10 years for all works,
existing and new
1956: 50 books, expire 1966, no books enter
pd
1957: 50 books, expire 1967, no books enter
pd
...
1961: 50 books, expire 1971, 50 books enter pd from
1951
In the example, between 1966 and 1970 you had a 5 year period - the
length of the extension - in which no new material entered the public domain. A
blackout period.
Let's say you reinstated the 50 books from 1950 into
copyright protection - removing them from the public domain. 50 books would
then enter the public domain in 1970 (rather then 1971) - but they'd be books
that were already in the public domain at one point. Not new material.
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