Comic Book Plus Forum

About The Comic Books We Have => Comics Not Allowed => Topic started by: zzlentz on June 24, 2010, 11:13:16 PM

Title: Copyrights
Post by: zzlentz on June 24, 2010, 11:13:16 PM
I can understand to a degree for some "Rights".However ,I feel some are out of line.50 years is a long time and there should be a limit set as to how long a work can be copyrighted.
  I don't mean to start arguments here,but just want my rantings heard.How many cars have you sold in your lifetime?Did you keep the car industry from making millions?How about firearms?Did Winchester sue?
Copyrights are just one of those things that make you scratch your head.
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: boox909 on June 24, 2010, 11:46:43 PM

I can understand to a degree for some "Rights".However ,I feel some are out of line.50 years is a long time and there should be a limit set as to how long a work can be copyrighted.
  I don't mean to start arguments here,but just want my rantings heard.How many cars have you sold in your lifetime?Did you keep the car industry from making millions?How about firearms?Did Winchester sue?
Copyrights are just one of those things that make you scratch your head.



Don't worry about arguments. Things are what they are. It would be nice if we could host Timely, DC, and Street & Smith golden age titles, but we can't because they are actively protected copyrights and we have no agreements with the current owners for hosting them here.

Perhaps things will change in the future.

B.
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: JVJ on June 24, 2010, 11:59:28 PM
Did S&S renew ALL of their titles, boox?
Like SuperSnipe and Super Magician and Red Dragon? What about True Sports Stories and Pioneer Picture Stories? S&S printed a LOT of comics besides The Shadow. Curious minds want to know...

(|:{>
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: boox909 on June 25, 2010, 12:04:15 AM

Did S&S renew ALL of their titles, boox?
Like SuperSnipe and Super Magician and Red Dragon? What about True Sports Stories and Pioneer Picture Stories? S&S printed a LOT of comics besides The Shadow. Curious minds want to know...

(|:{>


I dunno Jim, I am mainly going on the fact that they would send Men in Black to visit us if we posted issues of The Shadow.

However, I will be in a position to look it up and attempt to verify by summer's end. If we could host some of those titles it would be something!

B.
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: crimsoncrusader on June 26, 2010, 01:50:17 AM
I checked the copyright records for some of the books JVJ mentioned and found this: Supersnipe Comics: issues renewed from October 1942 (v. 1 no. 6); see 1969 , Red Dragon Comics: issues renewed from January 1943 (v. 1 no. 5), Red Dragon: issues renewed from February 1948 (v. 1 no. 2), Super-Magic Comics: issues renewed from May 1941 (v. 1 no. 1); see 1968, True Sport Picture Stories: issues renewed from February 1942 (v. 1 no. 5); see 1968, and Pioneer Picture-Stories: issues renewed from 1941 (v. 1 no. 1); see 1968. So all of them were renewed, but have not checked every series that SS published.  Here's the link http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/cce/firstperiod.html
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: narfstar on June 26, 2010, 02:19:48 AM
Thanks for the research Crimson. So with S&S not carrying about the comics we may never have reprints put out.
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: JVJ on June 26, 2010, 02:46:30 AM
I think it's VERY safe to say that we're not going to get any S&S reprints, narf. Never, nada, nohow. You want to read 'em, I guess you got to do it the old-fashioned way, you gotta buy 'em.

Peace, Jim (|:{>
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: narfstar on June 26, 2010, 12:34:19 PM
I think there is a market for buying the reprints. Maybe Dark Horse could be convinced of that and put out some volumes. The price of the actual books would indicate enough of an interest. This would also be a good area for print on demand. Does anyone have good contact with a print on demand/paid downlaod site? S&S is not adverse to licensing their product so I would think they may not be willing to give em away but profiting from someone else selling for them would be right up their alley.
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: JVJ on June 26, 2010, 08:44:10 PM
You're probably right, narf.
I hadn't thought of Dark Horse, though, for the record, I've not bought any of their reprint books. Mainly, I suppose, because I own the originals, but even if I didn't I would hesitate to spend the money. Their approach to reproduction leaves much to be desired, IMHO. It seems very "second rate" when compared to the Masterwork and Archive series.

Still, there's a lot of great material out there is S&S books (Powell, Maneely, Cartier, etc.) that is worth photocopying, if nothing else is available.

Peace, Jim (|:{>
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: narfstar on June 27, 2010, 03:43:21 AM
I agree Jim there is some good stuff in S&S. I have some Supersnipe and Supermagician as well as an Air Ace and Sports comic. Supersnipe is fun and Supermagician has some pretty neat features. I have the origin of Tigerman issue.
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: josemas on July 22, 2010, 02:07:49 PM
IDW is another publisher who might consider such as project.  They've published a number of volumes of licensed comic strips (Dick Tracy, Little Orphan Annie, etc..) and comic books  (Archie & co by Dan and DeCarlo another volume focusing on Stan Goldberg upcoming) as well as some PD comic book collections (DeCarlo's JETTA originally published by Standard).

Unless original art or nice stats or silver prints survive though anybody who reprints S & S will most likely publish straight from scans of the comics themselves as few publishers are going to the extra expense of trying to drop out color and clean up the art from scans anymore (even DC is now printing their older golden age material straight from scans).

Anyway I think their is a good chance that some publisher would be willing to publish volumes of the more popular S & S characters such as Doc Savage and The Shadow.   The rest of the S & S comic line may have to wait until copyrights begin expiring in the 2030s.

Joe M
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: DennyWilson on August 26, 2010, 12:13:07 AM
Supersnipe has to be the only major S&S character never to be revised or licnesed out.

Isn't it about time the S&S comics get reprinted - the pulps have been several times.
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: DennyWilson on August 26, 2010, 12:14:11 AM

Supersnipe has to be the only major S&S character that hasn't been revived

Isn't it about time all the various S&S comics get reprinted - the pulps have been several times.
Title: Re: Copyrights/ Street & Smith
Post by: mr_goldenage on October 22, 2012, 02:40:44 AM
For Me, With Street & Smith it is not about the Shadow. The Doc Savage of the Pulps? Nope. Give me a Clark Savage Jr. with a mystic ruby jewel turning him into a super hero! Really, I am more interested in Transo and Earth Man than I am in Blackstone The Magician. The Black Crusader and the Red Knight turned out to be very cool golden age costumed heroes. Why should their story not be shared? They are not news paper syndicated strips or anything of value to anyone but us. That is what I seek. The second string, the one shot, the lone warrior, that forgotten wizard. Your thoughts? Thank you and take care.

God Bless

Kindly

Richard Boucher AKA MR Goldenage
PR Publications:
The 1st Heroic Age, The Good Guys & Gals of the Golden Age, The Greats of the Golden Age Reprints. TM & C 2012 PR Publications a Division of Tamric Inc.
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: narfstar on October 22, 2012, 09:42:44 AM
Absolutely Richard. I have tried to contact S&S a couple of times and they never return any emails.
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: mr_goldenage on October 22, 2012, 06:40:21 PM
Narf,

I wonder if the feeling would be mutual? Would they ignore us if we ignored the Shadow and the Doc Savage of the Pulps (Plus all the other syndicated strips in those books) like we do with the Green Hornet? Would an Anthology of those types of characters be allowed? Or......I wonder......
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: josemas on October 23, 2012, 12:48:43 AM
I think the difference, and someone please correct me if I'm off the mark here, as to Street and Smith comics, and why we don't carry them, and why we have carried Green Hornet comics, sans Green Hornet is because the Street and Smith comics are all copyright renewed while the Green Hornet comics were not renewed but because there was some fear of an underlying copyright (the GH stories possibly being based on radio scripts) a very cautious decision was made a while back to delete those stories until further research regarding those possible underlying copyrights could be explored.

Best

Joe
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: narfstar on October 23, 2012, 01:22:40 AM
The entire S&S line was renewed. The GH stories are probably PD but the property is protected so while we would probably be legally OK it is probably a better idea not to carry GH.
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: mr_goldenage on October 23, 2012, 02:44:45 AM
My understanding was that only the "syndicated" characters were renewed. The Shadow, Doc Savage, The Avenger, Blackstone and the like.....not the content provided to S & S for their books. Perhaps I am very mistaken then. My bad. O well. I guess I get to enjoy by myself. Such a shame. Sorry guys n gals Nite all!


RB ! PR Central

PS....

Got Super Magician Vol # 1 # 4 today......Transo.....Kinda weak.....but what the heck I I like him.
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: narfstar on October 23, 2012, 10:02:55 AM
The S&S books do show up in other places. I have a few of various but no Doc or
Shadow. If one of the more adept copyright guys can find out different.  List of first copyright renewals has this info

The Shadow: issues renewed from April 1931 (v. 1 no. 1); see 1958 Jan-Jun
Shadow Comics: issues renewed from 1940 (v. 1 no. 1); see 1967

This looks like the entire contents were renewed. Trademark is a different idea. I would say that anyone who wanted to do a new Transo story would be able to as that trademark is long past. Should actually be the same with Super-Magician and Supersnipe. Which I would like to see revived.
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: Fray on April 10, 2014, 05:07:58 PM

I checked the copyright records for some of the books JVJ mentioned and found this: Supersnipe Comics: issues renewed from October 1942 (v. 1 no. 6); see 1969 , Red Dragon Comics: issues renewed from January 1943 (v. 1 no. 5), Red Dragon: issues renewed from February 1948 (v. 1 no. 2), Super-Magic Comics: issues renewed from May 1941 (v. 1 no. 1); see 1968, True Sport Picture Stories: issues renewed from February 1942 (v. 1 no. 5); see 1968, and Pioneer Picture-Stories: issues renewed from 1941 (v. 1 no. 1); see 1968. So all of them were renewed, but have not checked every series that SS published.  Here's the link http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/cce/firstperiod.html


Hello. I'm new to the board and while I've been reading PD comics for a few years now I've only just recently started becoming interested in the legalities of it. Regarding this statement, I'm confused by what is being said. For example: "Supersnipe Comics: issues renewed from October 1942 (v. 1 no. 6); see 1969". What does "see 1969" mean exactly? Was it renewed in 1969? If so, how many years until the copyright expires? Sorry for the dumb questions. :>)
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: movielover on April 10, 2014, 06:24:06 PM
Back in the day, comic books had to be renewed 28 years after publication. See 1969 means you have to look in the 1969 copyright renewals book to see the specifics. As for when they will expire, most likely never, as Congress gives in every time the mega media wants the copyright extended
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: Fray on April 15, 2014, 04:19:08 PM

Back in the day, comic books had to be renewed 28 years after publication. See 1969 means you have to look in the 1969 copyright renewals book to see the specifics. As for when they will expire, most likely never, as Congress gives in every time the mega media wants the copyright extended


Thanks for the info!
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: silversabrewolf on February 08, 2016, 11:18:29 PM

Absolutely Richard. I have tried to contact S&S a couple of times and they never return any emails.
Ha...Contact any of them they dont reply Ive contacted DC,Marvel and inquired if any of their titles will ever be public domain...no response.
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: mr_goldenage on February 09, 2016, 12:03:59 AM
S&S or whomever owns them now....doesn't care about their GA books EXCEPT when dealing with the Big 3. Which currently is licensed to Dynamite Ent.[and I like their take on Doc, the Avenger and the Shadow for the most part] ....other characters.....who knows. I've several dozen scans of the Shadow & Doc and Blackstone, plus about a dozen hard-copy books from S& S. But they are not permitted here. Shame we can't do an anthology excluding the Big 3 and just do the minor characters that have never been used since their last publications back in the 1940's.

As for Timely/Marvel/Disney and Warner Bro./DC et al. they will continue to put out expensive reprint "Masterworks" or whatever they want to call them but this is an expensive proposition and spotty at best, especially by Marvel/Disney as they have virtually killed off almost all of their GA characters in "Modern Day" continuity as I think DC has done pretty much as well or worse. Another shame (while I am on this rant) is the "New" Archie imprint "Dark Circle" now they've (Archie) has joined the world with their characters that now sport "Grim & Gritty" concepts by old characters you'd never recognize from their GA original characters. Why I ask? O well....here I am in the Minority on this as I well know but I do like the two Project Superpowers and the mini spin off individual characters but HATED the Warren Ellis Blackcross garbage. Just my 2 cents worth. (Why is there no Cent Key on my keyboard!)

Kindly

Richard
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: narfstar on February 10, 2016, 12:26:42 AM
I did not like Superpowers but really don't like Dark Circle. I always wondered why there was no cent key. There is some ctl alt or something that I don't know to get it.
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: silversabrewolf on May 14, 2016, 12:30:31 PM

I checked the copyright records for some of the books JVJ mentioned and found this: Supersnipe Comics: issues renewed from October 1942 (v. 1 no. 6); see 1969 , Red Dragon Comics: issues renewed from January 1943 (v. 1 no. 5), Red Dragon: issues renewed from February 1948 (v. 1 no. 2), Super-Magic Comics: issues renewed from May 1941 (v. 1 no. 1); see 1968, True Sport Picture Stories: issues renewed from February 1942 (v. 1 no. 5); see 1968, and Pioneer Picture-Stories: issues renewed from 1941 (v. 1 no. 1); see 1968. So all of them were renewed, but have not checked every series that SS published.  Here's the link http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/cce/firstperiod.html
  If they were renewed in 1968 wouldnt they fall under the old law and require a manual not automatic renewal per the 1992 statutes with anew registration in 1996?
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: John Kerry on December 07, 2016, 11:46:55 PM

Back in the day, comic books had to be renewed 28 years after publication. See 1969 means you have to look in the 1969 copyright renewals book to see the specifics. As for when they will expire, most likely never, as Congress gives in every time the mega media wants the copyright extended


Actually the driving force behind the continual extension of copyright was Sonny Bono and when he passed away his wife. Every time his songs were getting close to public domain he persuaded his fellow congressmen to pass a law extending copyright. 
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: crashryan on December 08, 2016, 04:57:56 AM
Yeah, ol' Sonny has a lot to answer for in creating today's ridiculous copyright laws. The Disney company was another big player, buying an eternal lock on Mickey Mouse. Also, the lawyer who cooked up with the Charles Chaplin family the idea of "owning" a dead celebrity's image/work deserves a skewer of his own.
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: John Kerry on January 05, 2017, 01:25:04 AM
The other copyright activist was Jack Valenti who has also passed on. The Supreme Court also has in the past said copyright cannot be extended indefinitely, but it also has never said what the limit should be.
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: Yoc on January 07, 2017, 09:39:59 PM
I honestly think the current climate in DC and their big business lobby groups art totally hostile towards the idea of the Public Domain.  I'd be shocked if anything new enters the public domain in the USA ever again and given how hard they pushed in the still possible Trans Pacific Partnership they want the rest of the world to follow their rules.

-Yoc
Title: Re: Copyrights
Post by: John Kerry on January 24, 2017, 03:26:50 PM
Read some interesting commentary last night. With Trump pulling the US out of the TPPF it means China is in a position to become the dominant economic player in that region. They are not nearly as tough on copyright as the US. Given Trump's attitude towards trade you could find that after four (or eight) years o that if the US wants in on anything it may have to accept what the rest of the world has decided is proper copyright terms.