And I suppose any money and other property you own should be forfeited to the public as well? Copyrights like this allow an author to provide for his family after death, just like any other property. And by controlling it, the family is able to influence how it is used, in order to properly protect the author's memory. At some point in time, the copyright will eventually expire, but until then, the family should be able to protect their rights. I want to see a Hobbit movie as much as anyone, but your opinion is really misguided.