[LINK] copyright question

[Brendan]

On 04/04/2011 09:16 AM, Karl Auer wrote:
> Hi all.
> 
> I'd like to make a derivative work from a piece written by a person who
> died in 1936. What's the copyright situation on that, does anyone know? 
> 
> Seems to me that as it's more than 70 years since the author died, I
> don't need to ask anyone's permission...

The unwritten policy of the legislature is this:
* it is too expensive to get adequate advice on these sorts of issues (particularly if you are an SME), therefore try to shift the risk by getting a licence from someone.  However, the transaction costs of getting a licence (and potentially also the licence fees as well) are themselves prohibitive.  So, do nothing.