In a message dated 10/29/00 10:46:46 AM Eastern Standard Time, dfulton@hmcltd.net writes: << Subj: [OHHURON-L] Copyright Laws? Date: 10/29/00 10:46:46 AM Eastern Standard Time From: dfulton@hmcltd.net (Dianne L. Fulton) Reply-to: dfulton@hmcltd.net (Dianne L. Fulton) To: OHHURON-L@rootsweb.com Fellow Listers, Recently, I acquired a book titled "The Ohio Hundred Year Book, 1803-1902." Question, would it be infringing on copyright laws to post some of the info?" Thanks, Dianne L. Springer-Fulton Proud member of NGS, OGS, Huron County Chapter of OGS >> Hi Dianne, If the book you cite was published before 1923, it would seem that it has passed into the public domain, according to the following table on the duration of copyright protection (web site last updated 10/09/99). There's a bunch of web sites on the internet that deal with copyright law. This table was taken from one of them. You might want to check some others, however, just to raise your comfort level (or discomfort level as the case might be, fighting your way through all the underbrush of legalese). As another means of trying to check this out, I called the Library of Congress, Copyright Public Information Office (202-707-3000) and was told that as a general rule, if a work is published over 75 years ago, it is now in the public domain. This office has no toll free number, but for general information you can email them at copyinfo@loc.gov. Regards, Ken Shute (kwsroots@aol.com). WHEN WORKS PASS INTO THE PUBLIC DOMAIN Includes material from new Term Extension Act, PL 105-298 DATE OF WORK / PROTECTED FROM / TERM Created 1-1-78 or after / When work is fixed in tangible medium of expression / Life + 70 years1 (or if work of corporate authorship, the shorter of 95 years from publication, or 120 years from creation2 Published before 1923 / In public domain / None Published from 1923 - 63 / When published with notice3 / 28 years + could be renewed for 47 years, now extended by 20 years for a total renewal of 67 years. If not so renewed, now in public domain Published from 1964 - 77 / When published with notice / 28 years for first term; now automatic extension of 67 years for second term Created before 1-1-78 but not published 1-1-78, the effective date of the 1976 Act which eliminated common law copyright / Life + 70 years or 12-31-2002, whichever is greater Created before 1-1-78 but published between then and 12-31-2002 / 1-1-78, the effective date of the 1976 Act which eliminated common law copyright Life + 70 years or 12-31-2047 whichever is greater 1 Term of joint works is measured by life of the longest-lived author. 2 Works for hire, anonymous and pseudonymous works also have this term. 17 U.S.C. § 302(c). 3 Under the 1909 Act, works published without notice went into the public domain upon publication. Works published without notice between 1-1-78 and 3-1-89, effective date of the Berne Convention Implementation Act, retained copyright only if, e.g., registration was made within five years. 17 U.S.C. § 405. Notes courtesy of Professor Tom Field, Franklin Pierce Law Center LOLLY GASAWAY Last updated 10-9-99 .