Re: Need information on public domain use and reprinting/republishing

Subject: Re: Re: Need information on public domain use and reprinting/republishing

Comments:
: : M. Arthur Auslander, I have been reviewing your previous posts and would like to ask you... I have an assorted collection of "antique craft books" published between 1846 and 1928. They contain directions and most contain graphic line drawings of the articles to be made from the books. I am looking to republish a number of these works and believe that all my books thru 1924 are now in the public domain and can be legally reprinted without permission. 1. Am i correct in this assumption? : : I also have the understanding that the others dated between 1925 and 1928 may also be in the public domain unless the original copyright owner reinstituted an application for copyright in 1978. 2. is this a correct interpretation? : : 3. If I republish by scaning, cleaning and reprinting these books, are the graphics, and line drawings in a different copyright arena? : : 4. Am I allowed to copyright my work ie the scans and editing I did to prevent someone else from just copying my reprints and republishing them for their own gain? : : 5. How do I go about trying to find out if an application was made for the books that are less then 75 years old but prior to the 1978 law..? : Social Security be damned, don't risk infingement. The records of the copyright office can be searched. The law has just been changed copyrights are now good for live plus 70 years. I believe that the 47 year renewal has been extended 20 years. The older copyrights had to be renewed after 28 years, if not renewed they are in the public domain. There are things that can be done with public domain work. The point has arrived where I must stop giving away my time and skill. I'll charge for further advice but focus on helping you to get what you want. : M. Arthur Auslander : ELAINE's Workshop: E arly L egal A dvice I s N ot E xpensive (sm) : Auslander & Thomas-Intellectual Property Law Since 1909 : 505 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018 : 212-594-6900, fax 212-244-0028, aus@auslander.com : : Thank you very much for any help you can give me to these questions. I am on social security, this is a hobby of mine, and I would like to see some of these publications republished to preserve the artistic techniques they represent, but have little money to hire an attorney to search. sigh... unless i can make a fortune recopying these L:) : : Thanks again : : Joni

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