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Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 1997-02 > 0856172872


From: FARCHIVIST <>
Subject: Re: soc.genealogy.documents: /copyright issue/A modest proposal
Date: Mon, 17 Feb 1997 09:47:52 GMT


I have been "listening" to this discussion, and just can't help adding my
two cents worth.

Public Records are those records which have been created at public
expense. Any of the maps which were created by contractors or employees
of the federal, state or local governments are not protected by copyright
as the rights have been purchased from them at the time they agreed to
accept public monies for their work. Therefore, any of the maps which are
otherwise records of any government office would be candidates for
consideration. The various governments would classify these maps, though,
and they would have to be classed as public records suitable for
disclosure.

Otherwise, privately created maps which did not have copyright protection
at 75 years after the death of the author (in general), would be
candidates for inclusion. The particulars of any that were part of an
estate and conveyed to heirs would be another category altogether.

Very many useful maps might easily be included in such a project without
fear of reprisal.

Hope this is useful information.

If not, please no flames. I meant well.
Sylvia Farvolden-Fairfax, C.A.,M.A.,Ph.D.
Historian,Archivist and Conservator
snail mail to: {{{{{THE PAST IS
PROLOGUE}}}}}
101 6th Street
Coupeville, WA 98239

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