Public Domain Day and no PD books until 2026

AprilHare · 01-31-2009, 05:24 AM

This interesting tidbit appeared in the Project Gutenberg Australia February newsletter:

Quote:

Public Domain Day
I recently became aware of "Public Domain Day". This day is celebrated on 1 January each year, the day that books enter the public domain after copyright in them has expired. The idea of a "Public Domain Day" is an excellent one as it highlights the fact that copyright has only a limited term and that, thereafter, the books are freely available to anybody. It also highlights the effect of changing the term of copyright. In Australia we won't be able to celebrate "Public Domain Day" until 2026 because of recent changes in our copyright law which extended the period of copyright in Australia. No more books will enter the public domain until 2026. See http://gutenberg.net.au/newsandreviews.html#a14

The KinKong site at http://www.authorandbookinfo.com/abyod/1958.htm lists hundreds of authors who died during 1958 alone. Hundreds also died in 1955, 1956 and 1957. Their work will not enter the public domain in Australia until at least 2026!

Oh, and the newsletter editor is Colin Choat.

HarryT · 01-31-2009, 05:38 AM

That applies specifically to Australia. In most of the world, new books enter the public domain every year.

AprilHare · 01-31-2009, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

That applies specifically to Australia. In most of the world, new books enter the public domain every year.

Quite true, but unfair nonetheless.

HarryT · 01-31-2009, 05:54 AM

I'm not sure I'd call it "unfair". Australia already has in the public domain books by authors who died up until 1956. All that's happening is that this is now "frozen", while the rest of the world which is on a "life + 70" copyright law will "gain" those books in our public domain, year by year, until by 2026 we end up with the same books. After that, we'll be "in step" once again.

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01-31-2009, 05:38 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	That applies specifically to Australia. In most of the world, new books enter the public domain every year.

01-31-2009, 05:54 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'm not sure I'd call it "unfair". Australia already has in the public domain books by authors who died up until 1956. All that's happening is that this is now "frozen", while the rest of the world which is on a "life + 70" copyright law will "gain" those books in our public domain, year by year, until by 2026 we end up with the same books. After that, we'll be "in step" once again.

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