> If someone spends 6 months, or even a year or two, writing a book, why should they be entitled to profits from the sale of that book for the rest of their lives?
Because, in spite of what the Internet thinks, good creators are rare and we should wish to encourage them.
In addition, good creators often aren't recognized immediately--there is time lag. Corporations shouldn't get to profit from your labor of 20 years simply because it took that long for you to become popular.
If you find that excessive, do you also consider that founders of startups should relinquish their shares "to the public domain" after some time?
I don't really get this. If someone spends 6 months, or even a year or two, writing a book, why should they be entitled to profits from the sale of that book for the rest of their lives? That seems a little excessive to me.