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« School for Scanning - Chicago, IL - June 2-4, 2004 | Main | LibraryLaw Blog new home / Invites you to contribute »

May 03, 2004

You can help free old works from copyright - need your help identifying library collections

Libraries and archive digitization projects can benefit greatly if a
newly filed lawsuit succeeds. It could release into the public domain
works published between 1964 and 1977 that did not have their
copyrights renewed. See Kahle v Ashcroft

What your library or archive can do to help

Give examples of treasured collections in your library or archives that
that have lots of works published during that time (Jan 1, 1964 -
December 31, 1977) that you will not digitize or that you will not post
online because of copyright. Focus only on works that are not likely
to be commercially exploitable - not major publishing houses. Example:
collection of inhouse church newsletters

Please send responses to Eli Edwards, misseli (at) mac.com and
indicate your name, institution, collection and how to follow up with
you for more details.

Many thanks,
Eli Edwards, SLIS student -- SJSU
Mary Minow, LibraryLaw.com (but don't reply to me, since Eli's - misseli (at) mac.com - compiling the replies- thanks)
on behalf of Chris Sprigman, attorney litigating the case

Bonus Question

Also, is a crackerjack reference librarian out there who could help
research this question?

How many print works were published during the timeframe 1920-1950? We
have figures for works published during that time that were
registered, noticed and renewed with the Copyright Office. We don't
have figures as to the number of works published that were NOT. A
source showing total number of works published 1920-1950 would help.
Include (and separate if possible) books, newsletters, pamphlets,
brochures etc.

For more info on the lawsuit, see:

"New Lawsuit Spotlights Thousands of Copyright 'Orphans' That Should Be in the Public Domain" (from the Free Expression Policy Project)

"Scholar Sues for Free Online Access to Out-of-Print Books" : (from the Chronicle of Higher Ed -- subscriber access only)

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» Librarians Looking for Help on Copyright Suit from commons-blog
Eli Edwards and Mary Minow are collaborating on a research project in support of the team working on the Kahle v. Ashcroft copyright lawsuit (maybe that makes them part of the team?), and they are asking librarians and archivists for their help. [Read More]