What are the rules on books that have become public domain?
If I want to write Moby Dick 2: Ishmael and the Ghost of Ahab, can I just go ahead and write and publish it?
P.S. don't be stealing my blockbuster idea Can you imagine being commissioned to write the sequel to that book?
Posted by Meredith (Member # 8368) on :
A very complex area of the law.
Generally, if I remember correctly, author's life plus 70 years. So it would depend on when Melville died.
Check out the website of the copyright office.
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
Life plus seventy, yeah. Herman Melville died September 28th, 1891. So I'd say he's in public domain now, so go ahead if you want. (Unless that was just a facetious idea citation for purposes of speculaton...)
Posted by Wordcaster (Member # 9183) on :
Yeah, I don't think Moby Dick 2 would cut it... I have an idea that borrows some elements from an even older story.
Posted by Pyre Dynasty (Member # 1947) on :
Life plus 70 was added fairly recently. Everything older than 1924 is public domain. When looking into a copyright you have to look at when it was created, then read the copyright laws of that day. It was once just a year from publication.
Posted by Kokor Hekkus (Member # 9593) on :
Can you imagine being commissioned to write the sequel to that book?