[LINK] copyright question

[Steven Clark]

On 04/04/11 08:46, 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..
if the work itself doesn't indicate who holds/held copyright (at or
about the time of publication), does it name a publisher? (was the work
published?)

since it's an older piece, perhaps the nla can assist in tracking down
these details; if a copy of the work is held by the library, they'll
have a bibliographic record containing such matters.

copyright is messy because it lacks a register, so it's quite possible
that *no one* knows who holds/held the copyright.

perhaps a copyright/ip lawyer could help you find a more definitive answer.

-- 
Steven