Is that right about HG and US copyright? He's still in copyright here in the UK. We've traditionally had a provision that protects a work throughout a writer's life, and extends for a fixed period after his or her death. Can't remember the details, unfortunately.
Under the Copyright Act of 1976 (effective 1978), the maximum length of a copyright was the life of the author plus 50 years, or 75 years, whichever was shorter.
The Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act of 1998 added 20 years to both of those; i.e., life of the author plus 70 years, or 95 years, whichever is shorter.
04 June 2006, 12:50 AM
dandelion
Wasn't it THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR PLUS 75 years? What is it now (since 1998)?
04 June 2006, 01:04 AM
Walloon
I could have sworn I answered both of those questions in my last post . . .
But if you don't believe me, here are links to the U.S. Copyright Office:
The "95 years from year of publication" rule applies to works published before 1978 that were still under copyright in 1978. Life of the author plus 70 years (or 95 years from year of publication for corporate works) applies to works published since Jan. 1, 1978.This message has been edited. Last edited by: Walloon,