Posted by John Wilson on June 19, 2006 at 15:32:39 from 202.154.130.223 user hugo.
In Reply to: Re: SA series and copyright posted by Jock on June 19, 2006 at 13:36:48:
Most countries now have the 70 not 50 years after the author’s death for copyright, with the exception for first world countries of Canada and New Zealand - Australia went to 70 years recently with the Australia-USA free trade deal.
In America works published pre-1923 are now out of copyright - this would apply to AR’s early works in America, but they are still in copyright in Britain/Europe. The S&A books were published post-1923 so are still copyright in America. Some authors’ heirs have apparently waived copyright for some post-1923 works on the Project Gutemberg site eg P.G. Wodehouse and the adult works - novels and plays of A.A. Milne (but not Christopher Robin!).
The S&A books will be out of copyright in Canada and New Zealand 50 years after AR’s death ie 50 years from the end of 1967. Is this to the end of 2017 ie up to 1 January 2018?
In Europe they will be in copyright for a further 20 years ie up to 1 January 2038. In America I suppose the S&A books are in the category of books published 1923 through 1963 with (copyright) notice and it was renewed. Hence the table below suggests to me that copyright in America for the S&A books would be 95 years after first publication. SA was apparently published in America in 1931 not 1930, so would be copyright for 95 years from the end of 1931 ie up to 1 January 2026 (and later for the other books).
It also appears from the table that Afghanistan, Bhutan, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Nepal, San Marino, and possibly Yemen are not party to any international copyright agreements. With San Marino in (inside) the EC, is it a haven for piracy?
But I am not a copyright expert!