|
Post by willmark on Jul 15, 2012 10:44:50 GMT -6
Take a peak at the publication date of the 1st edition date for Boot Hill: It is 1975, when exactly in 1975 doesn't matter because 95 years from publication for works published 1964–1977 is the basis; 28 (if copyright not renewed). So the question is did TSR/WoTC ever renew the copyright on Boot Hill? Because if they didn't it looks like 1st Edition Boot Hill entered into the public domain in 2003 as result.
Brian Blume wont matter as it's no longer his IP it was WotCs.
|
|
|
Post by aher on Jul 15, 2012 12:40:16 GMT -6
works published 1964–1977 is the basis; 28 (if copyright not renewed). So the question is did TSR/WoTC ever renew the copyright on Boot Hill? Because if they didn't it looks like 1st Edition Boot Hill entered into the public domain in 2003 as result. I'm no lawyer, but it looks like Congress renewed the copyrights on all works published between those dates...quoting from this site: Copyrighted 1964-1977
All books initially copyrighted in the US from 1964 through 1977 have had their copyrights automatically renewed (by law) and the copyrights are still in force. The initial copyright term was 28 years; the renewal was for 67 more years. So a book initially copyrighted in 1964 will pass into the public domain in 1964 + 28 + 67 + 1= 2060.
So we'll have to wait until (1975 + 28 + 67 + 1 =) 2071 for Boot Hill to become Public Domain...unless Congress extends copyrights again, which seems likely... SCOTUS said they could keep renewing indefinitely, and forever keep any works from ever again entering PD.
|
|
|
Post by willmark on Jul 15, 2012 13:15:50 GMT -6
Right if they renewed them... (EDIT: I see what it is saying about automatic) or question how does a lapse work? thing about WotC let the trademarks for AD&D lapse in 2003, could be that trademark is different. [/quote]
|
|
|
Post by willmark on Jul 15, 2012 13:19:58 GMT -6
double post
|
|