Re: finding publisher no longer in business

On 10/28/1999, Bob Schmidt <bobsch[_at_]olypen.com> wrote:
>
> I am trying to track down the copyright status of a book published
> by a firm that appears to longer be in business -- at least nothing
> comes up with any search engine I've tried nor are they on web sites
> listing book publishers. The company was Tudor Publishing of New York.

I too continue to have the same problem, different publisher. I know there are directories of publishers in a library with a good reference section. Some of the titles I've used, although unsuccessful, are Dictionary of Literary Biography, Publishers International ISBN Directory, if you find these, then I would also ask the librarian for other such texts.

> I have run the book through the Library of Congress' copyright
> database site but that covers only period since 1978. Since the book
> was published earlier (1949), I would have to dig into the Catalog
> of Copyright Entries, something apparently not available over the
> internet. I figure it would probably be easier trying to track down
> what became of the original publisher and go from there.

The other option is to have the copyright office do a search of the records. If you have a title, authors name, and/or publisher you may wish to send the information to them for a quote. I believe the search that I had done was about $70. I did obtain an assignment of the title I was researching to another company which quickly filed for bankruptcy. Boy, I gotta tell ya, I'm still looking and have not been successful in any of my tactics. I also had some state incorporation documents searched in Del. where the publishers were incorporated.

The bankruptcy info/docket is ridiculous and my client cannot afford to order the whole thing. It seems the assets were dispersed amongst different companies/individuals and I can't tell where the title I'm interested in has gone.

> Are there any search engines specific to locating companies that
> are no longer in business or have been bought by other companies?
>
> Any insights/guidance appreciated. Thanks and kindest regards, Bob.

That's all I can offer, but if you come up with anything good, please share. I'd appreciate any ideas that you may have also.

Best  

-Ronald R. Kilponen
-Registered Patent Attorney
-Novi, MI. 48376
-Ph: 248/344-7132
-e-mail: kilponen[_at_]bignet.net