Re: [ARSCLIST] "Forever" is hype (was Re: [ARSCLIST] Why sticky shed happened)

[steven c <stevenc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Richter" <mrichter@xxxxxxx>
> In advertising language, "forever" means 'for a long time' and "long" is 
> left undefined. The ultimate case for me is "Diamonds are forever" with 
> its variants. Of course, diamond is unstable anywhere near room 
> temperature and pressure; it is decaying into graphite from the time it 
> is dug up. But it will last many human lifetimes before the breakdown is 
> noticed, so long life becomes eternity for the huckster.
> 
> We've been through this with all sorts of media and will probably 
> continue until someone has credible life test to report. Unfortunately, 
> by then whatever medium has proved its longevity will be obsolete (at 
> best) or unproducable. Although 78s can still be pressed - and they are 
> - I've not heard of anyone doing so in shellac. I'm not persuaded that 
> longevity data for Berliner's or Edison's recordings apply to Historic 
> Masters' vinyl 78s.
> 
> Hmmm - maybe there is a real 'forever' in this business. As things are 
> going, perhaps we should coin a new slogan: Music copyright is forever.
> 
1) Well, I have shellac discs approaching their first century that show
no visible signs of degradation! Of course, "forever" for a shellac record
implies it isn't dropped, stepped on, immersed in water for any significant
length of time, exposed to ambient temperatures above about 120 degrees F
or contacted by any alcohols...

2) "Music copyright is forever" seems, so far, to apply only to the USA
(though RRIA would like to see at least world-wide applicability, with
that extending into outer space as necessary?!). In any case, it can only
last as long as the US does (will the radioactive mutant cockroaches be
able to play sound recordings eventually...?!)

...stevenc
http://users.interlinks.net/stevenc/