No Subject

[P3D Richard A. Wood <akrare@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Dr. T's entry into the publishing business is obviously without the
advice of a lawyer.  Copyright laws are nothing to joke about.  A
person can be taken to the cleaners for less than George is doing.  You
MUST get permission from the copyright holder before selling their
work. It doesn't make any difference how little you are making, you are
depriving that copyright holder of future sales.  And it doesn't make
any difference how long the book has been out of print if it is still
in copyright, which the book in question probably is.  A possible
scenario is that the publisher's lawyer decides that they could have
reprinted the book and made $20 profit on each copy.  Except Dr. T has
provided cheap copies (that it is a public service will not impress any
judge), so they sue.  They settle out of court for this amount plus
LEGAL FEES, for $20,000 (it takes their lawyer 100 hours to research
the market for the book).  Impossible?  Happens every day.  There are
even people who deal in copyrights.  They buy a copyright, find someone
infringing on it, sue for a huge amount, and settle out of court for a
big fraction of it.  Move on to the next suit.  Be careful, and try to
get permission from the publisher, unless the work is obviously out of
copyright (over 75 years old).  <fontfamily><param>Helvetica</param>In
the United States, I am told, copyright protection is extended to any
work created prior to 1978 for a period of seventy-five years after its
publication. Copyrights can be renewed.  To find out if a copyright has
been renewed check the records of copyright held at the Library of
Congress for books which have been submitted there. A list of
researchers is available of individuals who perform copyright searches
there for a fee.  Many small press or privately printed books never
make it to the records so that finding a renewal is actually better
than not finding one. At least you know with whom to negotiate.

This publisher's web site sells books on the copyright subject: 
http://www.nolo.com

Does anyone know if Morgan & Lester are still alive?  Zak might know.

Dick Wood, NOT a lawyer</fontfamily>



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End of PHOTO-3D Digest 1834
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