Does Drop in Copying Cost Support Copyright Term Extension?

Copyright duration has been or is being extended in many countries. Technological and demographical changes were cited by a U.S. Senate report to argue for U.S. copyright term extension. This paper analyzes the validity of the arguments. Simulation of a model of the information product market shows that decrease in copying cost of information products due to digital technologies calls for reduction of copyright duration. Partial support is found for the argument that longer life expectancy and delayed child-bearing may support copyright term extension. Furthermore, increase in demand for information products is found to call for reduction in copyright duration.