Hi Scott: You've got it right. Anything published before 1923 has passed into the public domain. Laws in effect at the time allowed for 28 year copyright + 28 year renewal. It was not until recent laws, 1978 and later that a number of years after the author's death was added to the copyright period. Larry Kinyon ----- Original Message ----- From: Scott K. Williams <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, June 13, 1999 1:51 AM Subject: Law Clarification > Dear List, > > It was my understanding that any book published before 1923 > was now public domain. However, when I asked an archivist at > the Missouri Historical Society, he insisted that it is much more > complicated than that. He said that it depends on when the author > died. I think he said 25 years must pass since the author's death. > > Can someone clarify this for me ? > > --Scott Williams > >