If a copyright has no value, why does everyone want yours?

Being a creative worker in the world is like owning a house, except they take the key from you and tell you (nicely) you can sleep in the shed at the bottom of the garden. I’m thinking particularly of copyright.

Every lawyer, agent, manager, producer I’ve ever worked with has always said exactly the same thing to me. Oh, we take the copyright. It’s not important. It has no value. Don’t worry about it. Well, then if it has no value would you mind if I keep mine? You know, for purely sentimental reasons?

I’ve never kept this item of no value. I’ve asked for 50% (big laughs) 20% (chuckles) 5% (mild sympathy) 1% (let me check.) The answer is no. This thing you built, the blank page turned into value, this dream, and sometimes this shipwreck of a thing that kept you awake for years, is not yours. Not really. That’s not the world they built.

I say ‘they’ because sure as heck I didn’t build it. Nor any other writer, composer, artist, performer, designer I ever met. We wouldn’t build a world where when your work is finished it leaves the house without so much as a nod. You become like the forgotten parent sitting on a park bench wondering where the time went. A creative empty nester.

I don’t even try anymore. Not enough days left. Fine. I’m a worker for hire. Here’s the song…