Copyright Law

[WillyBWright]

I have a lot of original antique outboard motor parts manuals from the 1920s thru the 40s. I now have a computer and peripherals capable of putting those on CD. I believe copyrights expire after 50 years, so by that measure I would think it would be legal to offer copies of the CD for sale. I also see no copyright information on any that I have closely examined in the first place.<br /><br />These are offered on paper by a publisher specializing in such things. I expect they would have copyrights on their manuals, or at least on their reproductions of original manuals. Would I be infringing by selling MY reproductions of original uncopyrighted parts manuals? I assume I should copyright my CD if I do?

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Copyright Law

For things published 1922 and earlier, the works are in the public domain. For 1923-1963, it is still copyrighted if the copyright was renewed. If it wasn't then it's public domain.<br /><br />For the works that were renewed in that time frame, they're copyright runs out 95 years after they were published. That is to say, a work published in 1923 will become public domain in 2018. So we are currently in a period where no works are entering the public domain.<br /><br />For more information:<br />Go Here.<br /> <br />PS - I'm certainly no lawyer. And heck - I don't even live in your country. So don't take my word as Gospel!