Gets a "little complicated.." ??? Amen! The laws have been more like
"totally subverted" from their original intent.
Strange there is no way to search the database, specifically, for expired
copyrights! Huh, almost enough to trigger my "conspiracy theory"
tendencies! Of course, perhaps Micro$oft developed the database--that would
be one acceptable explaination...

Regards,
John

--
I would like to point out, I do appreciate the "Been there--done that!"
posts. Indeed, now your observations, comments and discourse should be
filled with wisdom--I am listening!!!
"Dee Flint" wrote in message
...

"Hal Rosser" wrote in message
. ..

"John Smith" wrote in message
...
To all:

It is my understanding that all gov't materials, since paid for by
taxpayers, are non-copyright.
Also, any material before 1923 would have expired copyrights and,
undoubtably, a significant amount of material will have been published
"public domain";

So, you're saying that anyone could republish a book like "Moby Dick"
and sell it as their own since it was published before 1923 ?
I'm no lawyer, but I believe copyright live on. Patents expire.
If you're just wanting to build an antenna that someone else thought of
first
then you just 'do it' - just be careful about patent infringements if you
try to sell those antennas.



There are several websites addressing copyright. Here in the US,
copyrights before 1923 are indeed expired. Some copyrights after this
date are also expired depending on renewal status at the times of various
copyright law changes but that gets a little complicated. No they cannot
publish the material as their own as that is plagiarism but they can
publish it without permission of the original copyright holder and do not
have to pay anyone for the right to print it. When a publishing house
prints a new edition of "Moby Dick", all the money goes to the publishing
house. None goes to the author's estate or heirs.