Comic Book Plus Forum

News, Rules And Introductions => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: OberonBard on March 07, 2021, 12:27:32 AM

Title: Hello from Brisbane Australia
Post by: OberonBard on March 07, 2021, 12:27:32 AM

Hi. I'm Robert. What an amazing site you have. Well done. How has the content from the 1930s and onward come to be in the public domain? I thought that US copyright persisted for 95 years? Anyway, it's great to have access to a wonderful curated resource like this.

Title: Re: Hello from Brisbane Australia
Post by: The Australian Panther on March 07, 2021, 04:15:03 AM

Hi OberonBard, and welcome.
I'm a Queenslander myself [born in Brisbane] but languishing in New South. Actually, ironically I am within driving distance of the town of Oberon.
Do I take it you are a Shakespeare Buff?

Quote

How has the content from the 1930s and onward come to be in the public domain? I thought that US copyright persisted for 95 years? Anyway, it's great to have access to a wonderful curated resource like this.

 
People often ask this question, but often from different directions. I'm not staff, so I'm not an expert
I think it works like this. Someone [or company] has to own the copyright. If the company didn't protect the copyright in the first place or just went out of business without renewing copyright or selling it to another company, then it becomes PD. [In the public domain] If you own copyright and you have good lawyers you can renew it indefinitely. So anything that was published before about 1963 in English speaking countries, that you don't see on CB+,either hasn't been found to upload to the site or is not PD. Clear as mud.
Enjoy the site - and if you have any rare Australian comics that are PD - they could find a home here.
Welcome, enjoy and please join in.
Cheers!     

Title: Re: Hello from Brisbane Australia
Post by: Andrew999 on March 07, 2021, 09:12:56 AM

Welcome Robert - I hope you have a great time here!

Title: Re: Hello from Brisbane Australia
Post by: narfstar on March 08, 2021, 02:53:17 AM

Copyright in the USA was just 28 years renewable once for another 28 years. They also had to contain a proper copyright notice. Some companies here, like Charlton and Tower did not put on the proper copyright or did not put it on the cover, ifc or first page, which was also required. The law was changed because congressman had properties they wanted protected so they changed the laws to benefit themselves and now copyright is much longer.

Title: Re: Hello from Brisbane Australia
Post by: paw broon on March 08, 2021, 12:41:55 PM

Hello Robert.  Welcome to CB+.  Lots to discover and enjoy here, so go to it.