Copyright expiry when date of death unknown

SBT · 04-14-2013, 08:42 AM

Well, well, well ...
Just finishing off Sonia Kovalevsky's biography/childhood memoirs. I checked the deaths of the authors, which are OK, but forgot to check the translator until now. She was born in 1844, shows up in the U.K. census in 1911, published in 1916, but then drops off the radar.
Using today's U.K. demographics, there is a 0.016% probability she was alive in 1942. Life expectancy has increased by 20 years since then, so the actual probability is maybe an order of magnitude lower.
Is there any opening in copyright law for an author to be considered "missing, presumed dead"?
Can I upload this book at mobileread under the new life+70 regime, or is that taking 0.016% too much of a risk?

HarryT · 04-14-2013, 11:23 AM

Sounds reasonable to me to upload it. Go ahead.

04-14-2013, 08:42 AM	#1
SBT Fanatic Posts: 580 Karma: 810184 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Norway Device: prs-t1, tablet, Nook Simple, assorted kindles, iPad	Copyright expiry when date of death unknown Well, well, well ... Just finishing off Sonia Kovalevsky's biography/childhood memoirs. I checked the deaths of the authors, which are OK, but forgot to check the translator until now. She was born in 1844, shows up in the U.K. census in 1911, published in 1916, but then drops off the radar. Using today's U.K. demographics, there is a 0.016% probability she was alive in 1942. Life expectancy has increased by 20 years since then, so the actual probability is maybe an order of magnitude lower. Is there any opening in copyright law for an author to be considered "missing, presumed dead"? Can I upload this book at mobileread under the new life+70 regime, or is that taking 0.016% too much of a risk?

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04-14-2013, 11:23 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Sounds reasonable to me to upload it. Go ahead.

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