I think we should also focus on works from the last 30
years and put
some energy behind a copyright reform effort to get even older content
liberated by legal means.
I'm sorry, but I believe this will have no measurable effect on the wiki.
In opposition to any effort this $100 million could possibly generate, the
entire media industry is arrayed with a variety of well established lobby
groups to ensure no such change takes place. It is resonable to suspect that
the only changes to the law will be to increase the length of time for
protections, while at the same time removing existing user rights.
I know its sad, but if you think that this money could change worldwide law
that would end up having any real effect for the wiki, well, dream on. I
understand your concerns about giving money to rich people, but let me
assure you that it is precisely these people that would panic and dump
(insert any sum here) into any effort to oppose such reform.
Meanwhile that same amount of money could liberate a huge variety of media
that would immediately be available for use. Such examples would make the
media holders happy, not mad, and could cause other media asset libraries to
be put up for sale as well.
Maury