Death and copyrights

I would appreciate some guidance on the following issues:

Husband writes a book and owns the copyright. He doesn't register the copyright. He dies and his entire estate passes to wife. Wife dies and her entire estate passes to her three children. What evidence must we show to prove that the copyright passed to the wife? How does the wife's executor pass the copyright to one of the children (I assume by written assignment)? How do you value the copyright for purposes of determining the value of the distribution to the child? What needs to be filed or recorded at the Copyright Office (i.e., does the ultimate recipient of the copyright register it)?

Thanks in advance.

Joel Ankney
Mays & Valentine, LLP
Virginia Beach, Virginia
757.518.3206
jankney[_at_]maysval.com Received on Thu Jun 04 1998 - 14:31:26 GMT