Intellectual Property Law

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Question

I need to find information concerning my half sister's copyright - it is dated 1982. She apparently wrote a book and published it at her printing office in her home. How do copyrights work, are they forever or do they expire? Where can I search this information?

Submitted: 144 days and 9 hours ago.

Category: Intellectual Property Law

Value: $30

Status: AWAITING CUSTOMER ACTION

Kansas

Already Tried:
I am just beginning. My husband inherited his half sister's property and found a book that she had written and published with a copyright date of 1982. I don't know where to start looking to see if the copyright is still in effect. She had a printing company set up in her home and actually printed many of these books. The information on the inside cover is as follows: Copyright 1982 by Jean Vivian Printed and Distributed by: WOMAN PRINTS ENTERPRISES 118 w. Sparks Street, Galena, KS. 66739 WPN:82-002

Accepted Answer

You can search for registered copyrights at http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=First

A book written in 1982 will have its copyright expire 70 years after the death of the author. A copyright was created automatically when your half sister wrote the book, regardless of whether she registered it. There is no need to register or renew the copyright, it will still last for 70 years after the authors death.

Expert:	Patent Expert
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Accepts:	28
Answered:	6/16/2009

Patent Prosecutor

Registered Patent Attorney, Licensed California Attorney

144 days and 9 hours ago.

Reply

How do I search for the copyright by date, by the author's name?

Posted by Patent Expert 143 days and 16 hours ago.

Answer

Go to the "Other Search Options" tab, then select search by personal name.

http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?PAGE=bbSearch&SEQ=20090617121152&PID=4Ka10BQjIAE0Ghh2ZXRE-SrLvk

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