MobileRead status on newly PD Famous writers.

Greg Anos · 11-12-2009, 04:28 PM

I'm putting this thread here because I'm not certain where else to put it.

Raymond Chandler died in 1959. That means his works, which are still in print in lots of countries, will go public domain in Canada on Jan 1, 2010. That's less than 2 months from now.

With all the lawyer problems around Margaret Mitchell's work, does MR plan to host Chandler (and Lester Dent as well - he died in 1959 as well), assuming some public-spirited Canadian citizen uploads them.

zelda_pinwheel · 11-12-2009, 04:30 PM

if the texts are pd in canada then there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't. hopefully they'll appear soon on gutenberg or some kind-hearted person will go to the trouble of scanning them as a personal project.

Greg Anos · 11-12-2009, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

if the texts are pd in canada then there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't. hopefully they'll appear soon on gutenberg or some kind-hearted person will go to the trouble of scanning them as a personal project.

Well, Zelda, there may be a reason. Some estate have sued and/or demanded takedown notices to Canadian servers posting books that are PD in Canada but not in, say, the US. The Margaret Mitchell estate is notorious for this, that is why Gone With the Wind is not on the Mobile Read server. It's been public domain in Canada for a decade (died 1949). It's available on PG Australia, grandfathered in when the US free trade agreement forced them to go from life + 50 to life + 70.

To fight the demand has been more money than any Canadian website has been willing to host, so there is no case law to refer to. That chilling precedent may affect what Mobile Read is willing to host, so I was basically asking Alex whether there was a policy.

(And smile when you call me a lawyer....)

zelda_pinwheel · 11-12-2009, 04:49 PM

yes, i certainly understand that. and i don't know personally whether the chandler estate is particularly litigious. but i don't think we should walk on eggshells just in case ; public domain is public domain, that is the law. unless there is some sort of precedent which would put mobileread in danger of a lawsuit from some unscrupulous and greedy rights holders, i think our policy is "respect copyright law".

Greg Anos · 11-12-2009, 04:54 PM

Conde' Nast is, and 3/4 of all the Doc Savages go PD in Canada Jan 1 2010...

Billjr13 · 11-12-2009, 06:33 PM

Doc Savage! I used to love "the man of Bronze" I wonder how it holds up? I haven't read those books since i was a kid.

BenG · 11-13-2009, 09:25 AM

What would be the status of Killer in the Rain which was published in 1964 after Chandler's death.

BenG · 11-13-2009, 09:39 AM

Sax Rohmer also died in 1959. A lot of his stuff is already in the public domain, but there are a lot that were published after 1922.

Greg Anos · 11-13-2009, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenG

What would be the status of Killer in the Rain which was published in 1964 after Chandler's death.

Posthumus works have their own separate timer. I don't remember the exact details, it's buried in the copyright act...

WT Sharpe · 11-13-2009, 10:04 AM

The day Issac Asimov's works enter the public domain, Project Gutenberg will double in size!

Solitaire1 · 11-14-2009, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billjr13

Doc Savage! I used to love "the man of Bronze" I wonder how it holds up? I haven't read those books since i was a kid.

There's a recent comic book special that you might be interested in. On 11 November 2009 DC Comics released a Batman/Doc Savage Special. Based on that the ad for the special says, it appears to me that they are going to integrate Doc Savage into the DC Universe but put him on a different Earth than the one the rest of the DC characters are on.

GA Russell · 11-15-2009, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenG

What would be the status of Killer in the Rain which was published in 1964 after Chandler's death.

Ben, I'm speaking off the top of my head here. I read Killer in the Rain ca. 1974. It is my recollection that it was a collection of short stories published back in the day, I imagine before The Big Sleep.

Perhaps your 1964 date refers to when the stories were collected into one volume.

If I am right (and don't bet the ranch), they should all become PD January 1 along with the rest of his work.

Billjr13 · 11-15-2009, 04:51 AM

Thanks Solitaire1 I will check it out, thinking of hitting the bookstore this weekend.

HarryT · 11-15-2009, 04:56 AM

Just to clarify - we do not "plan" on hosting or not hosting any specific books (with the notable exception of "Gone With the Wind" where, to be honest, it's just not worth the hassle - if you want it, download it from PG Australia). If someone wishes to upload Mr. Chandler's books on or after 1st Jan 2010, we will happily host them.

MarlaChristy · 11-15-2009, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Just to clarify - we do not "plan" on hosting or not hosting any specific books (with the notable exception of "Gone With the Wind" where, to be honest, it's just not worth the hassle - if you want it, download it from PG Australia). If someone wishes to upload Mr. Chandler's books on or after 1st Jan 2010, we will happily host them.

As I understand it, Copyright is country sensitive i.e. life plus x for national writers or assimilated. Signatories to the Berne Convention is life plus 50?

So Chandler will be in the PD in the EU? But Maurice Lblanc is CP for a little time to come in France (died in 41), but is already PD elsewhere?

11-12-2009, 04:28 PM	#1
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,247 Karma: 35000000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	MobileRead status on newly PD Famous writers. I'm putting this thread here because I'm not certain where else to put it. Raymond Chandler died in 1959. That means his works, which are still in print in lots of countries, will go public domain in Canada on Jan 1, 2010. That's less than 2 months from now. With all the lawyer problems around Margaret Mitchell's work, does MR plan to host Chandler (and Lester Dent as well - he died in 1959 as well), assuming some public-spirited Canadian citizen uploads them.

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11-12-2009, 04:30 PM	#2
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	if the texts are pd in canada then there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't. hopefully they'll appear soon on gutenberg or some kind-hearted person will go to the trouble of scanning them as a personal project.

11-12-2009, 04:49 PM	#4
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	yes, i certainly understand that. and i don't know personally whether the chandler estate is particularly litigious. but i don't think we should walk on eggshells just in case ; public domain is public domain, that is the law. unless there is some sort of precedent which would put mobileread in danger of a lawsuit from some unscrupulous and greedy rights holders, i think our policy is "respect copyright law".

11-12-2009, 04:54 PM	#5
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,247 Karma: 35000000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	Conde' Nast is, and 3/4 of all the Doc Savages go PD in Canada Jan 1 2010...

11-12-2009, 06:33 PM	#6
Billjr13 Addict Posts: 357 Karma: 550002 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Colorado Device: Sony PRS 700 & 650	Doc Savage! I used to love "the man of Bronze" I wonder how it holds up? I haven't read those books since i was a kid.

11-13-2009, 09:25 AM	#7
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,729 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	What would be the status of Killer in the Rain which was published in 1964 after Chandler's death.

11-13-2009, 09:39 AM	#8
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,729 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	Sax Rohmer also died in 1959. A lot of his stuff is already in the public domain, but there are a lot that were published after 1922.

11-13-2009, 10:04 AM	#10
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,073 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	The day Issac Asimov's works enter the public domain, Project Gutenberg will double in size!

11-15-2009, 04:51 AM	#13
Billjr13 Addict Posts: 357 Karma: 550002 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Colorado Device: Sony PRS 700 & 650	Thanks Solitaire1 I will check it out, thinking of hitting the bookstore this weekend.

11-15-2009, 04:56 AM	#14
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Just to clarify - we do not "plan" on hosting or not hosting any specific books (with the notable exception of "Gone With the Wind" where, to be honest, it's just not worth the hassle - if you want it, download it from PG Australia). If someone wishes to upload Mr. Chandler's books on or after 1st Jan 2010, we will happily host them.

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