Re: Dracula

From: Dan L Burk <BURKDANL[_at_]shu.edu>
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 14:50:18 -0400

On 07/14/98, Michael Scarpitti <mscarpit[_at_]asnt.org> wrote:
>
> I have heard that Universal Studios has trademarked or copyrighted the
> word "Dracula". How can they do that?

By accruing identification with the term in the minds of the public, most likely, registering it. The trademarking, that is. Copyright is pretty much out of the question.

> I have seen editions printed recently of Dracula that carry a copyright
> notice, even though they are without notes or any new editorial
> material. The book came out in 1897. Is it possible to copyright
> this?

Depends on what you mean by "this." The text of the story, no -- that fell into the public domain a long time ago. There may be a "thin" copyright in original aspects of the formatting in a particular edition.

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Dan L. Burk
Seton Hall University
burkdanl[_at_]shu.edu

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Received on Wed Jul 15 1998 - 18:45:15 GMT