Hatrack River Writers Workshop   
my profile login | search | faq | forum home

  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» Hatrack River Writers Workshop » Forums » Open Discussions About Writing » statute of limitations

   
Author Topic: statute of limitations
Wordcaster
Member
Member # 9183

- posted      Profile for Wordcaster   Email Wordcaster         Edit/Delete Post 
What are the rules on books that have become public domain?

If I want to write Moby Dick 2: Ishmael and the Ghost of Ahab, can I just go ahead and write and publish it?

P.S. don't be stealing my blockbuster idea Can you imagine being commissioned to write the sequel to that book?

Posts: 475 | Registered: Jul 2010  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Meredith
Member
Member # 8368

- posted      Profile for Meredith   Email Meredith         Edit/Delete Post 
A very complex area of the law.

Generally, if I remember correctly, author's life plus 70 years. So it would depend on when Melville died.

Check out the website of the copyright office.

Posts: 4633 | Registered: Dec 2008  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Robert Nowall
Member
Member # 2764

- posted      Profile for Robert Nowall   Email Robert Nowall         Edit/Delete Post 
Life plus seventy, yeah. Herman Melville died September 28th, 1891. So I'd say he's in public domain now, so go ahead if you want. (Unless that was just a facetious idea citation for purposes of speculaton...)
Posts: 8809 | Registered: Aug 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Wordcaster
Member
Member # 9183

- posted      Profile for Wordcaster   Email Wordcaster         Edit/Delete Post 
Yeah, I don't think Moby Dick 2 would cut it... I have an idea that borrows some elements from an even older story.
Posts: 475 | Registered: Jul 2010  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Pyre Dynasty
Member
Member # 1947

- posted      Profile for Pyre Dynasty   Email Pyre Dynasty         Edit/Delete Post 
Life plus 70 was added fairly recently. Everything older than 1924 is public domain. When looking into a copyright you have to look at when it was created, then read the copyright laws of that day. It was once just a year from publication.
Posts: 1895 | Registered: Mar 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Kokor Hekkus
Member
Member # 9593

- posted      Profile for Kokor Hekkus   Email Kokor Hekkus         Edit/Delete Post 
Your blockbuster idea's been done already! May I direct you to the *awful* _2010: Moby Dick_ *shivers*
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1694508/
Posts: 12 | Registered: Aug 2011  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
   

   Close Topic   Feature Topic   Move Topic   Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
- Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:


Contact Us | Hatrack River Home Page

Copyright © 2008 Hatrack River Enterprises Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.


Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classic™ 6.7.2