Re: [d@DCC] Pirating is Illegal! [Was: Movie copyright duration]

From: Jonathan Addleman <jonathan.addleman _-at-_ mail.mcgill.ca>
To: "General Copyright Discussions (questions, organizing, etc)" <discuss (at) list.digital-copyright.ca>
Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:40:47 -0400
References: <99a6c38f0707221414q6d3b0a74te542ecc77278f44e@mail.gmail.com>

Scott Elcomb wrote:
> The original movie (b&w) was produced in 1937...
> 
> Could anyone tell me if can I legally "copy" this movie?  (I'm not
> expecting responses from lawyers, but I'd really enjoy your opinions!)

Looks like I was mistaken about the US copyrights, actually. While the
laws in place in 1937 allowed for a 28 year copyright term that could
also be renewed for another 28 years, the copyright act of 1976 extended
this renewal to 48 years for works that hadn't yet expired. So anything
published from 1923 and 1977 is protected for 95 years from publication
date. That assumes that the original copyright was renewed, of course,
though I haven't searched the database, since it's such a pain.

Of course, who knows whether the 'author' died more than 50 years ago or
not. It may or may not still be protected here in Canada.

-- 
Jon-o Addleman - http://www.redowl.ca
_______________________________________________
Discuss mailing list
Discuss@list.digital-copyright.ca
http://list.digital-copyright.ca/mailman/listinfo/discuss