Posted by Jock on June 19, 2012 at 10:03:35 user Jock.
In Reply to: Re: Clifford Webb Illustrations posted by Jon on June 19, 2012 at 06:20:10:
UK copyright expires 70 years after the death of the author.
US copyright rules are more complex. For works that received their copyright before 1978,
a renewal had to be filed in the work's 28th year with the Library of Congress Copyright Office
for its term of protection to be extended to maximum of 95 years after publication. Works published
after 1978 enjoy copyright protection for 70 years after the death of the author (except works
deemed to have been produced 'for hire'. Sound recordings enjoy copyright protection until 2067.
The Berne Convention states that all works except photographic and cinematographic shall
be copyrighted for at least 50 years after the author's death, but parties are free to provide
longer terms.
Under the Berne convention, if there is a difference in copyright term between the country
of origin and the country where copyright is being claimed then generally the latter term shall
be applied.
The bottom line?
Yes, the Clifford Webb illustrations are probably now out of copyright, but only in the US.
Exemptions?
The UK concept of fair dealing (brought in to harmonise UK law with the EU) is much more
narrowly defined than the US equivalent of fair use.