Why should someone (and their heirs) who writes an article have control over it for 120 years when someone who creates an invention that has far more value to society only gets a patent for only 20 years?
Just a SWAG, one can assume, given the rapid advance in technology, that in 20 years a particular design has become
obsolete? If you think about it, it PROMOTES advancement because you design something and know that it will be public property in 20 years there is an added incentive for you to improve on it and patent the improvements or completely redesign this thing so that you yourself make the previous one obsolete.
Then, when it comes to writings and the like, intellectual property, when does it
EVER become obsolete? I mean right now turn on the radio. The classic rock stations are still playing stuff that was done in the 60's and they're still making $ off it. Same with the oldies stations. Only they play even older stuff.
Is Shakespeare obsolete? How about the weapons of his day, are they obsolete?
My damn computer is 7 years old, it's a friggin dinosaur.