That is an elegant solution. The only issue is that it requires the author to register the work in the first place. While this works for inventors with the patent system, this isn't currently required for copyright. Every written work has a copyright to it. So for instance, a memo from a companies VP has a copyright on it. No one wants to have to register all of these copyrights. Maybe if they register it after the 10 year mark.. when you would extend the copyright. I suppose that would work well.

What I have yet to figure out (and I am an Information Policy grad student) is why we can't broaden our Trademark protections for thinks like Mickey Mouse.. and shorten the length of copyright.