Png and Wang (2006)

From Copyright EVIDENCE

Advertising Architectural Publishing of books, periodicals and other publishing Programming and broadcasting Computer programming Computer consultancy Creative, arts and entertainment Cultural education Libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities

Film and motion pictures Sound recording and music publishing Photographic activities PR and communication Software publishing Video game publishing Specialised design Television programmes Translation and interpretation

1. Relationship between protection (subject matter/term/scope) and supply/economic development/growth/welfare 2. Relationship between creative process and protection - what motivates creators (e.g. attribution; control; remuneration; time allocation)? 3. Harmony of interest assumption between authors and publishers (creators and producers/investors) 4. Effects of protection on industry structure (e.g. oligopolies; competition; economics of superstars; business models; technology adoption) 5. Understanding consumption/use (e.g. determinants of unlawful behaviour; user-generated content; social media)

A. Nature and Scope of exclusive rights (hyperlinking/browsing; reproduction right) B. Exceptions (distinguish innovation and public policy purposes; open-ended/closed list; commercial/non-commercial distinction) C. Mass digitisation/orphan works (non-use; extended collective licensing) D. Licensing and Business models (collecting societies; meta data; exchanges/hubs; windowing; crossborder availability) E. Fair remuneration (levies; copyright contracts) F. Enforcement (quantifying infringement; criminal sanctions; intermediary liability; graduated response; litigation and court data; commercial/non-commercial distinction; education and awareness)

Source Details

Png and Wang (2006)
Title: Copyright Duration and the Supply of Creative Work: Evidence from the Movies
Author(s): Png, I. P., Wang, Q. H.
Year: 2006
Citation: Png, I. P., & Wang, Q. H. (2009). Copyright Duration and the Supply of Creative Work: Evidence from the Movies. Manuscript, National University of Singapore.
Link(s): Open Access
Key Related Studies:
Discipline:
Linked by: Long (2011)
About the Data
Data Description: Using the IMDbPro, they extracted information about various characteristics of movies created in the twenty-six OECD member countries during the period 1991-2002. They also used Euromonitor International’s Global Market Information Database to get data about other national characteristics that might possibly affect the demand for movies and movie production, for example, population, GDP per capita, and real interest rates.
Data Type: Secondary data
Secondary Data Sources:
Data Collection Methods:
Data Analysis Methods:
Industry(ies):
Country(ies):
Cross Country Study?: Yes
Comparative Study?: No
Literature review?: No
Government or policy study?: No
Time Period(s) of Collection:
  • 1991-2002
Funder(s):

Abstract

At various dates between 1991-2002, nineteen OECD countries extended the duration of copyright, typically from the author’s life plus 50 years to author’s life plus 70 years. We study the impact of the extensions on the production of movies. We find that the extensions were associated with an increase in movie production ranging between 8.51% (±4.60%) and 10.4% (±4.89%). The increase was higher in countries where piracy was lower.

These findings were robust to various specifications, including concomitant changes in government funding of movie production.

The extension of copyright duration applied retrospectively to owners of existing film libraries and might have reduced their cost of capital. However, studios with larger libraries did not increase movie production relatively more than smaller studios.

Our results suggest that contrary to received thinking among leading economists and lawyers, extensions of copyright duration far in the future did have economically significant effects on the production of movies.

Main Results of the Study

  • The authors used data from various sources to test if the copyright extension from life + 50 to life + 70 increased movie production in 26 different OECD member states.
  • The authors found that, in contrast to what many leading economists had theorised, as the copyright term was retroactively extended it did increase movie production.
  • The authors also found that large companies with large existing catalogues did not increase production of movies more in comparison to companies with smaller catalogues.
  • Found that elasticity of movie production is quite high and that during 1991-2002 there were many new production companies but the existing ones did not grow significantly during the time under study.


Policy Implications as Stated By Author

Found that the extension of copyright term increased movie production, thus suggests the copyright term extension was an effective policy in increasing movie production.

Coverage of Study

Coverage of Fundamental Issues
Issue Included within Study
Relationship between protection (subject matter/term/scope) and supply/economic development/growth/welfare
Green-tick.png
Relationship between creative process and protection - what motivates creators (e.g. attribution; control; remuneration; time allocation)?
Green-tick.png
Harmony of interest assumption between authors and publishers (creators and producers/investors)
Effects of protection on industry structure (e.g. oligopolies; competition; economics of superstars; business models; technology adoption)
Green-tick.png
Understanding consumption/use (e.g. determinants of unlawful behaviour; user-generated content; social media)
Coverage of Evidence Based Policies
Issue Included within Study
Nature and Scope of exclusive rights (hyperlinking/browsing; reproduction right)
Exceptions (distinguish innovation and public policy purposes; open-ended/closed list; commercial/non-commercial distinction)
Green-tick.png
Mass digitisation/orphan works (non-use; extended collective licensing)
Licensing and Business models (collecting societies; meta data; exchanges/hubs; windowing; crossborder availability)
Green-tick.png
Fair remuneration (levies; copyright contracts)
Enforcement (quantifying infringement; criminal sanctions; intermediary liability; graduated response; litigation and court data; commercial/non-commercial distinction; education and awareness)

Datasets

Sample size: 26
Level of aggregation: Country
Period of material under study: 1991-2002