Nancy Drew still in copyright?

carld · 07-17-2009, 11:49 AM

While googling around I found a site with several of the old Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books for download, among many others. Books like "Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock" which was the first one published in 1930. The site claims that all the titles are in public domain, but I think these books are a little too new (30s and 40s) to have hit PD just yet.

It's possible the copyrights were never renewed and the books have indeed moved into public domain, but I was wondering if anyone knew for sure?

HarryT · 07-17-2009, 11:53 AM

No. All the Nancy Drew" books are still in copyright.

carld · 07-17-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

No. All the Nancy Drew" books are still in copyright.

So I assumed, but wasn't sure.

Carl

BookLoverToo · 07-17-2009, 02:10 PM

Fictionwise has the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series in ereader, mobi and Microsoft reader formats if you want a legitimate ebook source.

Hellmark · 07-17-2009, 04:00 PM

1927 I believe is the magic number for it to be public domain in the US.

Is the site based in the US? Not all countries have the same laws on public domain, so Australia and a few others have stuff in public domain that aren't in the US.

carld · 07-17-2009, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellmark

1927 I believe is the magic number for it to be public domain in the US.

Is the site based in the US? Not all countries have the same laws on public domain, so Australia and a few others have stuff in public domain that aren't in the US.

The early books of the Nancy Drew series just miss that date. They'd be in PD if it weren't for the Sonny Bono Public Domain Theft Act, or whatever it was called.

According to WHOIS the site is registered in California. I'm guessing they just don't realize the books aren't PD, as the site is otherwise full of non-copyright titles. Also, checking Project Gutenberg turns up no Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys. I'm guessing if any had indeed fallen into the public domain they'd be found there.

Hellmark · 07-17-2009, 06:34 PM

Is the host/domain registrar in Cali, or the people who run the site? Often people use US companies to get their pages through, but they're for different regions.

carld · 07-17-2009, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookLoverToo

Fictionwise has the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series in ereader, mobi and Microsoft reader formats if you want a legitimate ebook source.

Thanks, I'll check it out.

carld · 07-17-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellmark

Is the host/domain registrar in Cali, or the people who run the site? Often people use US companies to get their pages through, but they're for different regions.

Registrant Organization

reamHost Web Hosting
Registrant State/Province:CA
Registrant Country:US

I'm assuming that means the servers are physically in the US and US copyright applies.

Carl

Hellmark · 07-18-2009, 01:05 AM

That's just the Domain Registrar (but typically, they are only used by people who they host for). Still, since it is likely the host as well, it could very well be argued that US copyright law would apply, regardless of where the site is intended for, even if it is meant for a country where they are public domain.

HarryT · 07-18-2009, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellmark

1927 I believe is the magic number for it to be public domain in the US.

No, it's 1923.

HarryT · 07-18-2009, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carld

Registrant Organization

reamHost Web Hosting
Registrant State/Province:CA
Registrant Country:US

I'm assuming that means the servers are physically in the US and US copyright applies.

Carl

You can see where the server physically is by doing a "tracert" to it. If the server is physically located in the US, then US copyright law is what applies, and any "Nancy Drew" or "Hardy Boys" books on it are not there legally.

BookCat · 07-25-2009, 06:29 AM

If you can bear reading pbooks, Nancy Drew is usually easy to find at jumble sales, car boot (garage) sales etc for very little money.

zipzip · 08-15-2009, 11:52 PM

I've been wondering about this too, and I don't think it's as simple as it appears.

Here's the thing: Starting in 1959, the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books were rewritten. Not just edited, actually rewritten, by different ghost writers than the originals. The U.S. Copyright Office's website shows no earlier date than 1959 for the first in the Nancy Drew series, "The Secret of the Old Clock," or the first Hardy Boys book, "The Tower Treasure." However, these are new works by a different author, retaining only the plot and characters of the 1930 edition. Both say, "New Matter: revision."

So the question is, are these pre-1959 versions of the books out of copyright?

BookCat · 08-16-2009, 12:58 AM

Wikipedia have an extensive article about the ghostwriting. Apparently, they all were from the beginning. Later, as zip says, they were rewritten in accordance with changing culture. Not sure if the earlier versions even exist.

Maybe someone knows?
(How would Nancy solve this?)

07-17-2009, 11:49 AM	#1
carld Wizard Posts: 2,698 Karma: 4748723 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Nancy Drew still in copyright? While googling around I found a site with several of the old Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books for download, among many others. Books like "Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock" which was the first one published in 1930. The site claims that all the titles are in public domain, but I think these books are a little too new (30s and 40s) to have hit PD just yet. It's possible the copyrights were never renewed and the books have indeed moved into public domain, but I was wondering if anyone knew for sure?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Action Hutcheson, John C: The Wreck of the Nancy Bell. V1. 26 July 2009	crutledge	BBeB/LRF Books	0	07-26-2009 07:10 AM
Action Hutcheson, John C: The Wreck of the Nancy Bell. V1. 26 July 2009	crutledge	IMP Books	0	07-26-2009 07:06 AM
Nancy Kress -- Brain Rose -- ebook Edition?	poohbear_nc	Reading Recommendations	8	07-20-2009 11:56 AM
Nancy Pelosi's cat video on Youtube	Nate the great	Lounge	6	01-15-2009 09:38 AM
In Copyright? - Copyright Renewal Database launched	Alexander Turcic	News	26	07-09-2008 09:36 AM

07-17-2009, 11:53 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	No. All the Nancy Drew" books are still in copyright.

07-17-2009, 02:10 PM	#4
BookLoverToo Enthusiast Posts: 40 Karma: 104 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505	Fictionwise has the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series in ereader, mobi and Microsoft reader formats if you want a legitimate ebook source.

07-17-2009, 04:00 PM	#5
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,549 Karma: 3799999 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: O'Fallon, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3	1927 I believe is the magic number for it to be public domain in the US. Is the site based in the US? Not all countries have the same laws on public domain, so Australia and a few others have stuff in public domain that aren't in the US.

07-17-2009, 06:34 PM	#7
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,549 Karma: 3799999 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: O'Fallon, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3	Is the host/domain registrar in Cali, or the people who run the site? Often people use US companies to get their pages through, but they're for different regions.

07-18-2009, 01:05 AM	#10
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,549 Karma: 3799999 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: O'Fallon, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3	That's just the Domain Registrar (but typically, they are only used by people who they host for). Still, since it is likely the host as well, it could very well be argued that US copyright law would apply, regardless of where the site is intended for, even if it is meant for a country where they are public domain.

07-25-2009, 06:29 AM	#13
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	If you can bear reading pbooks, Nancy Drew is usually easy to find at jumble sales, car boot (garage) sales etc for very little money.

08-15-2009, 11:52 PM	#14
zipzip Member Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 2.0	I've been wondering about this too, and I don't think it's as simple as it appears. Here's the thing: Starting in 1959, the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books were rewritten. Not just edited, actually rewritten, by different ghost writers than the originals. The U.S. Copyright Office's website shows no earlier date than 1959 for the first in the Nancy Drew series, "The Secret of the Old Clock," or the first Hardy Boys book, "The Tower Treasure." However, these are new works by a different author, retaining only the plot and characters of the 1930 edition. Both say, "New Matter: revision." So the question is, are these pre-1959 versions of the books out of copyright?

08-16-2009, 12:58 AM	#15
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Wikipedia have an extensive article about the ghostwriting. Apparently, they all were from the beginning. Later, as zip says, they were rewritten in accordance with changing culture. Not sure if the earlier versions even exist. Maybe someone knows? (How would Nancy solve this?)