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Narration form book -- legal advice
- Thread starter Giganova
- Start date
Steve House
Veteran
If I want to include a short (20-sec) narration from a section of a book that was published in 1921, do I need to get a license from the publisher?
Thanks!
Copyrights on works prior to 1923 have expired. HOWEVER, check to see that there aren'y any later editiions where the copyright was renewed.
Steve House
Veteran
Thanks, Steve.
Is there a web site where I can check the status of copyrights?
You might start with the Copyright Office. Beyond that, I don't know.
Galleddrim
Active member
Copyrights to anything published before 1923 have expired, and the work is public domain. There are no renewals for publications before that date.
Only changes or additions can be copyrighted in later editions. So just make sure you are using the original 1921 text, and you'll be fine. For instance, Shakespeare's Hamlet is in the public domain. A paraphrase of Shakespeare's Hamlet published in 1965 and the footnotes included would likely be protected by copyright.
http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm
Should add that depending on how you plan to use a work of literature in a film, it may fall under the area of fair use. In your case, you have nothing to worry about because the rights have long expired. But for future reference:
http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/resources/publications/statement_of_best_practices_in_fair_use/
Only changes or additions can be copyrighted in later editions. So just make sure you are using the original 1921 text, and you'll be fine. For instance, Shakespeare's Hamlet is in the public domain. A paraphrase of Shakespeare's Hamlet published in 1965 and the footnotes included would likely be protected by copyright.
http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm
Should add that depending on how you plan to use a work of literature in a film, it may fall under the area of fair use. In your case, you have nothing to worry about because the rights have long expired. But for future reference:
http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/resources/publications/statement_of_best_practices_in_fair_use/
Last edited: