I believe that there might be a loophole in this. Under the original law, copyright had to be renewed. If it wasn't renewed, the item fell into the public domain. Once in the public domain, it can't revert to copyright status unless and until we do something with it, like index it or transform it in some way. So if the copyright on those old newspapers was not renewed (at whatever fee the LoC was charging at the time, then they are out of copyright. BUT BUT BUT, don't take my word or belief for fact. Check it out with the Copyright office of the LoC. Tom Perrin Sir James wrote: > > This is of interest to all Genealogist > > Did you all know that a new law was passed through Congress and signed > by the President that extends the copyright law by another 20 years? > What does this mean to genealogists? For one thing, those newspaper > obits you want to transcribe and put on line are now protected for > another 20 years. So if the obit was published after 1922 it is > protected by copyright law until 2019. There is an article at > http://www.usigs.org/signal/98-11-2.htm that explains more. The > article was written by Richard W. Eastman who also writes 'Eastman's > Online Genealogy Newsletter'. > > **************************************************** > James A. Streeter - SIR JAMES - [email protected] - ICQ 3737732 > President -- United States Internet Genealogical Society > USIGS Web Page -- http://www.usigs.org > > New Hampshire USGenWeb -- www.geocities.com/Heartland/5275/nh.htm > Sullivan Cnty Nh -- www.geocities.com/Heartland/5275/nhsul.htm > Essex Cnty Ma -- www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/2150/essex.htm > Caledonia Cnty Vt -- www.geocities.com/Heartland/5275/cledonia.htm > Lamoille Cnty Vt -- www.geocities.com/Heartland/5275/lamoille.htm > Orange Cnty Vt -- www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/2150/orange.htm