Re: UK copyright

> Ron B. Thomson wrote:
> >
> > [re UK copyright]
> > Copyright in print materials (author known, etc.) is life-of-author
> > plus 70 years. The 70 years change was effective 1 January 1996. For
> > works which came into the public domain in the last 20 years because
> > the old rule was "life plus 50", their copyright has re-entered
> > private hands (under a set of rules to control the change) and
> > continue as if the "life plus 70" had always been in place.

Dan Agin (Spectrum Press) asked
>
> Does this mean the work of any British author who died before May 1,
> 1926 is in the public domain in the UK? Also, how is the protection of
> posthumous publication handled?

1. Generally British-based laws (UK, Canada, etc.) allow copyright to run to the end of the year in which a person dies, and then tacks on the extra time. So the copyright of material authored by someone who died anytime in 1926 will (probably) run to 31 December 1996. What is now in the public domain is material produced by authors who died on or before 31 December 1925.
2. I am not certain what the UK law is on posthumous works. I don't have a copy of the British Act, nor the details on if (and how) it was extended. I am in London next week, and I could try to find out, but I would not be able to reply until after May 19th.

Ron B. Thomson
<thomson[_at_]chass.utoronto.ca> Received on Thu May 02 1996 - 19:52:14 GMT