Re: [ATM] Ellison's book and others

[Mark Holm <mdholm@telerama.com>]

> noting that it can be difficult to be certain about who 
> might own an old copyright.  However, one can also worry too much.

Things only become public domain in a few ways, including:
1. Not in a class of works that are covered by copyright law.  (Probably
not true for most atm material).
2. (prior to 1978 in U.S.) Published without copyright notice.
3. (after 1978 in U.S.) Published with explicit release to public domain.
4. Copyright holder explicitly releases work to public domain sometime
after original copyright.
5. Copyright expires.  (Expiration terms in the U.S. are a nightmare of
Congressional ingenuity.)

There is also the problem that the original publication of Ellison's
work may well have been in Great Britain or Ireland.  I don't know
copyright terms there, or how that affects U.S. copyright status.  I am
pretty certain that publication under copyright in a foreign country
does not preclude publication under copyright in the U.S., but I don't
know how it might affect the term.

I doubt atmsite will accept copyright protected work without the
copyright holder's permission.  If Ellison's book really has become
public domain, then, it would probably be welcome.

-- 
Mark Holm
mdholm@telerama.com

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