Well, not having seen the material but I agree with you that it is not copyrightable to begin with and admitting I'm not that familiar with renewing copyrights...but only the original copyright holder can renew a copyright not the second republisher unless the original copyright was assigned to the republisher, which I doubt... So the first company, if there was a copyright, would hold the copyright, if they let it lapse the copyright is gone... Who said you couldn't put it on the web...? Sometimes a republisher will hold the copyright on any additional information added to the original book, but the original book copyright could have expired...can't revive it once it's gone... Charlotte >From: "Stephen and Carol Slotnick" <[email protected]> >To: [email protected] >Subject: copyright confusion >Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1999 09:24:47 -0700 > >List Members, > >I am trying to sort out the confusing copyright laws and hope someone can >help. > >I have a microfiche copy of a book, copyrighted in 1933 which is a >compilation of Palatine records, such as "List of Palatine's Into England", >Governor Hunter's Ration Lists" , Palatine Naturalization Records", etc. >This book was published by one company in 1933 and then by another company >in 1968 & again in 1999. > >First, it is my understanding that something copyrighted in 1933 was under >the copyright law that was for 28 years, and could be renewed for an >additional 28, if it was done within 2 years. Then if it was renewed the >2nd time in would be protected under the total 75 year laws. (Hope I have >this straight) > >If it wasn't renewed, then I am assuming that this copyright expired in >1961. > >The problem is, I want to transcribe this information to put on my website >and link to the GenWeb Schoharie site, and I wrote to the present >publisher, >who told me I could not use this book, and that the author copyrighted it >in >1933. > >I don't believe the information in this book is under copyright law in the >first place, and secondly how can I find out if the 1933 copyright was >renewed? I have tried to search the Library of Congress website for this >book, but I cannot find it there. > >Can a publisher renew a copyright, or would they just take a book that was >expired and publish it? > >Thanks for any help anyone can give me, >Carol ><[email protected]> ><[email protected]> >---------------------------------------------------------------- >HOMEPAGE http://www.boxes-in-the-attic.com > > _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com