Author Topic: Some Advice please (Read 557 times)

WxMan · « **on:** November 13, 2003, 09:29:33 AM »

After moving my father in law into a nursing facility, I came across a history of his bomber squadron. He was B-26/B-25 pilot with the 70th Bomber Squadron/42nd Bombardment Group of the 13th Air Force in the Pacific.

I would like to scan the book to preserve its contents and also share it with anyone interested, however it does have a 1946 copyright from the Army and Navy Publishing Company. The company as far as I can discern is no longer in business and the book is certainly out of print.

The question is, is the copyright still enforceable and if so how can I possibly get a release?

Secondly, what is the best way of saving the scans? The book is 200 pages long. I had started saving it as a .pdf document but the constraits of time necessitates that it will take several sessions to complete, causing several .pdf files. I would however like to present it as a single document.

Any advice on the above would be apprecitated.

WeatherMan
AKWxMan

Sikboy · « **Reply #1 on:** November 13, 2003, 10:10:47 AM »

While I am not an actual lawyer, I might be able to shed some light on the copyright issue. I'll see what I can come up with.

However, I can certainly help you out with the scanning issue.

I don't know what software you are using to scan the book, but if you have the full version of Acrobat, you can easily add scanned pages to an existing document, or just combine multiple .pdf's into a single document. It may be possible with your software, but I'd need to know what you are using.

-Sik

Guppy35 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 13, 2003, 05:35:31 PM »

First things first. Take good care of that book!

Priceless and then some. Group histories like that, go for lots and lots of money if you can get original copies.

Many Veterans Associations have had them reprinted for family members etc.

While researching a bomber crew from the 454th BG I tried to track down a copy of their unit history. I couldn't afford the few I found, but then I learned from their association that they had reprinted it.

http://www.batterypress.com/

Battery Press did theirs and many others. They may have reprinted the one you have. They might also be able to answer your question since they've had to deal with that stuff.

Should you ever get it worked out, I'd dearly love to get a copy of the book. Collecting Bomber & Fighter Group histories is a hobby of mine.

Good luck. Wish I'd found it

Dan/Slack

redphoenix · « **Reply #3 on:** November 18, 2003, 04:46:19 PM »

http://www.activepdf.com/en/Products/Composer

Now, you can download it and try it. Until you buy it some functionalities are disabled BUT it might get what you want to do done.

My company owns it... I could see if they would let me do it for you but it is unlikely. Can you send me the scans in TIFF and I can see what I can do.

Red

ICKID · « **Reply #4 on:** November 19, 2003, 02:07:52 PM »

Copyrigthts are only re-newable every 17 years. You can check with the library of Congress on the CopyRight you are interested in and see if it was ever renewed. If you have no intension of using the copiyrighted document to make money, you can copy it to your harts content, for your sole use only.

Reschke · « **Reply #5 on:** November 19, 2003, 03:12:48 PM »

Ickid nailed it on the head from what I remember. The only way you would get in trouble is if you were found to be profiting from their work or passing it off as your own.

As for the software problem...Adobe Acrobat is able to allow you to put new pages into the document. It is time consuming but definetely worth the effort if you want to keep something valuable like that.

Angus · « **Reply #6 on:** November 19, 2003, 04:22:30 PM »

Just from memory, but at least novels move out of copyright range after 50 years. Digging deeper, I think that kept the Lord of the Rings out of being translated into some odd languages (such as Icelandic!) as well as being fully published as a comic/cartoon......errrr whatever.
Just my 5 cents, but good luck, and I'd be happy to see some of what you've got!

WxMan · « **Reply #7 on:** November 20, 2003, 04:15:59 PM »

Thanks to all who posted. I haven't done much addtional work as my father in law passed away last Friday.

While looking for his discharge papers I came across several interesting items. Some of them include his flight records from when he was an aviation cadet flying BT-13A (what ever that was) through the war (B-26's & B25's) to when he was an instructor flying A-26's. A couple of written tests. Multi-engine and insturment certificates etc..

Up until his death I had scanned a little less than half the book. My HP scanner allows me to save the scans in .pdf files and I have several of them. I will probably purchase Adobe Acrobat so I can consolidate the files.

Barring any legal restrictions, it is my intent to offer with out charge to any interested party the finished product either through a yet to be developed web page or individualy, depending upon the size of the finished product.

WeatherMan
AKWxMan

mia389 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 26, 2003, 12:00:44 PM »

That would be very intresting to read. When your done or get a site let us know. You can get adobe off of kazza I know but not sure if its legal. Will take awhile to download too.

WxMan · « **Reply #9 on:** November 28, 2003, 08:29:09 PM »

Thanks to all who gave advice. The scan has been completed. Please see the new thread A History of the 42nd Bombardment Group (M)

Rasker · « **Reply #10 on:** January 14, 2004, 10:31:55 PM »

this from legal.zoom.com:

Works Originally Created and Published or Registered Before January 1, 1978 - For pre-1978 works still in their original or renewal term of copyright, the total term is extended to 95 years from the date that copyright was originally secured. [thats assuming that the original copyright was renewed before expiring]

Rasker, Attorney at MAW