From: "Pilch, Janice T" <[log in to unmask]> Date: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 22:36:00 +0000 In France, authors who "died for France" obtain 30 extra years of copyright protection. These types of special terms are also found in some countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union. They serve similarly as small compensation for patriotic activity or wartime hardship and to right the political wrongs of the past, and for other reasons. Some examples: Russian Federation -The Russian Federation adds 4 years of protection for individuals who participated in or worked during WW2. -It has a special term for authors who were politically repressed and posthumously rehabilitated. The 70-year term is calculated from the year of rehabilitation. -The term for works published posthumously within 70 years of the author’s death is calculated from the date of publication. Kazakhstan -The 70-year copyright term for an author who was politically repressed and posthumously rehabilitated is calculated from the year of rehabilitation. -The term for works first published posthumously within 30 years of the author’s death is calculated from the date of publication. Ukraine -Has a copyright term for posthumously rehabilitated authors. The 70-year term is calculated from the year of rehabilitation. -The term for works first published posthumously within 30 years of the author’s death is calculated from the date of publication. Yes, this does make defining the public domain much more complex. Best regards, Janice Pilch Copyright and Licensing Librarian Rutgers University Libraries Email: [log in to unmask] ________________________________________ From: Kevin Smith <[log in to unmask]> Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 13:23:37 +0000 As far as I know, France and Russia both added some time to the term of copyright (or, one could say, tolled its running) because of the two World Wars. In France, the time periods were very specific, things like 6 years and xxx days, to account for the exact time periods the nation was at war. But I also believe that France's highest court has ruled that those extensions were preempted by later legislative developments, so that the term of life plus 70 is now the standard. There may yet be special provisions if the specific author "died for France" however. Kevin L. Smith, M.L.S., J.D. Director, Copyright and Scholarly Communication Duke University Libraries Durham, NC 27708 [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Sandy Thatcher <[log in to unmask]> Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 23:13:23 -0500 I had not known before about the extension of copyright for another 15 years (beyond author's life plus 70) that the French government enacted to account for the duration of the two world wars. I wonder if any other European governments have followed suit? I'm not sure what the logic of this extension is, but in this case it can't be blamed on Mickey Mouse! Sandy Thatcher > From: "Jim O'Donnell" <[log in to unmask]> > Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2014 17:52:39 -0400 > > An entirely noble music radio station, WMNR in Monroe CT, all > classical music, all volunteer, a great station to listen to on the > internet -- not part of the NPR world for the most part -- brings me > this afternoon an announcer telling a digested version of the linked > story below -- about the real-world case of what has happened to the > royalties of Maurice Ravel since his death in 1937. > > "Bolero" still makes big bucks, you see, and so it seems that my own > contributions to WMNR are even now, as I listen to "Bolero", > contributing to those royalties. Decide for yourself the benefit to > society that comes from the way this particular money droppeth like > the gentle rain from heaven upon today's beneficiaries. A fascinating > article... > > http://www.theguardian.com/education/2001/apr/25/arts.highereducation > > Jim O'Donnell > Georgetown