How old is old enuff?

[bobpbx]

I was in the Bishop Building of Toms River Library today. I could easily spend a whole day in there. It is all NJ material. Many towns have historical committees that write books on the history of the communities. Lacey has at least 3 that I saw. In one of them, an old-timer in 1910 drew a map of Bamber showing where the school was and all the houses that people lived in. I wanted to post some photos.

Ben, do you know what the copyright laws are concerning photos and other book material?

I'm pretty sure if you copy anything for education its okay. I wonder if what we do qualifies?

 

[Teegate]

Here is the info on how long book copyright endures. This may or may not answer your question.

Guy

Works Originally Created on or after January 1, 1978

A work that is created (fixed in tangible form for the first time) on or
after January 1, 1978, is automatically protected from the moment of its
creation and is ordinarily given a term enduring for the author's life plus
an additional 70 years after the author's death. In the case of "a joint
work prepared by two or more authors who did not work for hire," the term
lasts for 70 years after the last surviving author's death. For works made
for hire, and for anonymous and pseudonymous works (unless the author's
identity is revealed in Copyright Office records), the duration of copyright
will be 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is
shorter.

Works Originally Created before January 1, 1978, But Not Published or
Registered by That Date

These works have been automatically brought under the statute and are now
given federal copyright protection. The duration of copyright in these works
will generally be computed in the same way as for works created on or after
January 1, 1978: the life-plus-70 or 95/120-year terms will apply to them as
well. The law provides that in no case will the term of copyright for works
in this category expire before December 31, 2002, and for works published on
or before December 31, 2002, the term of copyright will not expire before
December 31, 2047.

 

[Ben Ruset]

Ben, do you know what the copyright laws are concerning photos and other book material?

I'm pretty sure if you copy anything for education its okay. I wonder if what we do qualifies?

Generally, it's copyright up to 70 years after the author's death. In the case of the Henry Charlton Beck articles for the Star Ledger, they will be under copyright until 2042 (since they are a work for hire.)

Maps such as USGS Topo maps, etc. are in the public domain and therefore not copyright. We can use and post them without breaking copyright, despite what some other ignorant people may think.

There is no special provision for "educational" use. The only special provision for reproducing a copyrighted work would be the "fair use" clause, which allows you to quote a portion of a copyrighted article for critical review or for parody.

There is a fine line that you have to draw. While that map might be copyright, I would still say "post it" because there is a good chance that nobody would mind. Now if you wanted to scan and post a Henry Charlton Beck book, that wouldn't fly.

Copyright law is very interesting.