Another "is this book in PD" question...

Ea · 02-01-2010, 12:52 PM

I can't figure it out - please help

Is a book, published in 1911, in United Kingdom, whose author died in 1970 in PD? And if so, where?

I'm guessing it might be, as other of Forster's work from that time is available on Guterberg.org - but my problem is I can't figure out what's what when the auther didn't die until 1970.

The book is The Celestial Omnibus by E. M. Forster - I'm making a personal copy for my own use, but would like to share it if I can.

HarryT · 02-01-2010, 01:07 PM

It will be in the public domain in the USA, but not anywhere else (other than those oddball countries with no copyright laws). Anything published prior to 1923 is in the US public domain, regardless of when the author died. So yes, you can upload it here, and request that it be moved to our US server.

Ea · 02-01-2010, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

... regardless of when the author died.

Thank you! It was this I couldn't figure out because your examples mentioned this in relation to long dead authors - at least that was my impression.

So in UK it won't be in PD until 2041 - am I correct? And Canada 2021? (just curious

)

Jellby · 02-01-2010, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Anything published prior to 1923 is in the US public domain, regardless of when the author died.

But... regardless of where it was published? The Wikipedia article on US copyright, for instance, says: "All copyrightable works published in the United States before 1923 are in the public domain".

Ea · 02-01-2010, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellby

But... regardless of where it was published? The Wikipedia article on US copyright, for instance, says: "All copyrightable works published in the United States before 1923 are in the public domain".

I wonder about that, too. Is there any way to find out such a thing? That is, when the book first was published in USA?

HarryT · 02-02-2010, 02:48 AM

Given that E.M. Forster is a major novelist, and this was published in 1911 in the UK, there seems very little reason to doubt that it would have been published in the US at some point prior to 1923. Unless anyone can show that it actually wasn't, I think we're safe in hosting it on our US server.

jmaloney · 02-02-2010, 03:14 PM

Looks like the first American edition was published in 1923 (assuming this is correct), so I'm not sure.

Ea · 02-02-2010, 03:59 PM

Found a 'copyright cleared 9 nov 2008' in this list of Gutenberg 'works in progress', so it should be fine.

Thanks for all your help guys

HarryT · 02-03-2010, 03:30 AM

Great! Thanks for letting us know.

02-01-2010, 12:52 PM	#1
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	Another "is this book in PD" question... I can't figure it out - please help Is a book, published in 1911, in United Kingdom, whose author died in 1970 in PD? And if so, where? I'm guessing it might be, as other of Forster's work from that time is available on Guterberg.org - but my problem is I can't figure out what's what when the auther didn't die until 1970. The book is The Celestial Omnibus by E. M. Forster - I'm making a personal copy for my own use, but would like to share it if I can.

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02-01-2010, 01:07 PM	#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	It will be in the public domain in the USA, but not anywhere else (other than those oddball countries with no copyright laws). Anything published prior to 1923 is in the US public domain, regardless of when the author died. So yes, you can upload it here, and request that it be moved to our US server.

02-02-2010, 02:48 AM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Given that E.M. Forster is a major novelist, and this was published in 1911 in the UK, there seems very little reason to doubt that it would have been published in the US at some point prior to 1923. Unless anyone can show that it actually wasn't, I think we're safe in hosting it on our US server.

02-02-2010, 03:14 PM	#7
jmaloney Connoisseur Posts: 95 Karma: 800 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: Sony Reader Touch	Looks like the first American edition was published in 1923 (assuming this is correct), so I'm not sure.

02-02-2010, 03:59 PM	#8
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	Found a 'copyright cleared 9 nov 2008' in this list of Gutenberg 'works in progress', so it should be fine. Thanks for all your help guys

02-03-2010, 03:30 AM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Great! Thanks for letting us know.