RE: 50/50 book ownership dispute

Is your book a "joint work"? See 17 USC 101. If so, you may not need to account to your partner at all, depending upon the contracts between you and depending upon the law regarding accounting for joint works in your jurisdiction. Ask a local copyright attorney.  

/Larry Rosen  

Lawrence Rosen

Rosenlaw & Einschlag, a technology law firm (www.rosenlaw.com)

Stanford University, Lecturer in Law

3001 King Ranch Road, Ukiah, CA 95482

707-485-1242 * fax: 707-485-1243

Author of "Open Source Licensing: Software Freedom and

                Intellectual Property Law" (Prentice Hall 2004)

From: CNI-COPYRIGHT -- Copyright & Intellectual Property [mailto:CNI-COPYRIGHT[_at_]cni.org] On Behalf Of David Eckardt Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 8:45 AM
To: CNI-COPYRIGHT -- Copyright & Intellectual Property Subject: [CNI-(C)] 50/50 book ownership dispute  

 I am 50% owner of a copyrighted book. My partner and I wrote, published, and distribute the book. Recently, that book sold out of its first printing. I wish to reprint, my partner does not. Through long negotiations, I have not been able to convince him of the value of a reprint. The book's material is somewhat time-sensitive and he thinks it is dated. It had to be reprinted to be available for sale this summer to be of value. Thinking further arguement futile, without telling him, I decided to reprint using my own money. Later, I told him what I did, but still offered him partnership in the profits of the book after it returned me my investment in the reprint. He declined all reasonable offers and threatens to sue over my "unlawful" pirating of his copyrighted property. He also claims that reprinting the book without his permission was illegal. What would be anybodies take on this? Received on Wed Mar 22 2006 - 01:00:01 GMT