There's also absolutely zero sense that if there's any term based on the lifetime of the authors, that it should extend a single day after their death.
I'd definitely prefer a 20-30 year fixed term, but if it was going to be based on lifetime then it should only be until the death of the author.
I don't have particularly strong feelings on this particular issue, but I do take issue with worrying about edge cases. By definition, edge cases are infrequent and unlikely occurrences. Trying to account for every possibility is a way of making sure nothing ever changes. It's a form of perfect being the enemy of good.
For this particular scenario, I would tell publishers and authors to take out a life or accidental death insurance policy.
Publisher takes risk every time they publish book, sometimes they loose money sometimes they earn a lot. This wouldn't deter them from publishing young author, maybe even the opposite because statistically they would have more chance to live long.
If I'm alive and I work, I provide for my family. If I'm dead then im not providing for my family anymore. why should it be different for authors ?
There's also absolutely zero sense that if there's any term based on the lifetime of the authors, that it should extend a single day after their death.
I'd definitely prefer a 20-30 year fixed term, but if it was going to be based on lifetime then it should only be until the death of the author.