fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2930 ]

[ SECRET POST #2930 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2930 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sorry, I didn't really know where else to ask. I was thinking about making Arndt's Onegin available for download (since it is, as far as I'm aware, not yet available anywhere online), but I have no clue how to go about finding out if it's still under copyright. Is looking at a physical copy the only way? I read up on the US copyright laws, and it seems that in this particular case one can say nothing definite just by looking at the date&place of publication. It's 1963, and US, presumably (seeing as Arndt resided there), but I have no idea as to whether he ever applied for copyright renewal (which would be necessary for his translation to not be in the public domain by now). Any suggestions? Perhaps someone has a physical copy and can tell me the answer?

IANAL and unfortunately I don't have my copy with me atm (back at my parents' house I think). That said, I would assume that the copyright was renewed, for the benefit of the publisher if nothing else. You could try asking the original publishing house I guess? But I would be very surprised if it was out of copyright, that doesn't really seem to happen very often.

Yes, that is true. It's an awful pity; truth to be told, I just really want to make a good English version of Onegin accessible to people (or to my circle of acquaintance, at least), and I'm running around in search of one, but so far it's been a fruitless search. The versions that are out of copyright all seem to be bizarre and/or very mediocre :/ Arndt's is my personal favourite, so I hoped all the more I could publish it.

Yeah, it does stink. You could always translate it yourself, I guess, but that's possibly a bit extreme. It's not really surprising to me that the older translations are not great - it really seems like almost all Russian translations from that era are bad or poorly regarded, although I have no expertise on the matter myself.

I don't think... I mean, as far as piracy goes, I think this is relatively less morally objectionable, given that Arndt has passed away, but my sense is that this isn't something you'd regard as an option no matter what, so yeah. Just kind of stinks.

I do translations, but I'm afraid that at this point my self-esteem is too low to make any attempt at a poetic translation of Pushkin's work.

I'm really torn right now, actually. I spent a major part of my life in places where piracy was the most normal thing in the world, and everyone pirated stuff all the time. But I'm also very protective of the creators of my favourite media, and now that I moved to a different country and also, I suppose, grew up a bit, I'm becoming increasingly aware of the ethical and financial aspects of the issue. I still haven't figured it all out.

I do think that file sharing isn't inherently wrong (it depends on the individual case), and there are other instances where I'd happily pirate something despite its being copyrighted (e.g. when the copyright holders are dicks who can't let go - see the case of the Conan Doyle estate), but in general I'm actively looking for ways to stop doing any damage to those who rely on copyrighted content as a source of income. So, yes, I guess I wouldn't consider the option of publishing Arndt's translation anyway, not because my views on the matter are super strict, but because I'm just really confused and would rather err on the side of caution.

I suppose I'll console myself by buying printed versions of good Onegin translations for all my friends who want to read the thing :D

I have no idea as to whether he ever applied for copyright renewal (which would be necessary for his translation to not be in the public domain by now)

Not so. With a 1963 copyright date, it would have still been under copyright on Jan 1 1978, thus grandfathered into the life+50 (or creation+75, depending on who actually held the copyright).

Ah, I see. Thank you. Well, then, so much for spreading Onegin love *sighs*

So here's my thinking. If the original work is in the public domain, then anyone can translate it, so even if a translator makes money from their translation, once the commercial success (if any) of their translation is decades in the past, I don't think the cops will be beating down your door and demanding you stop giving out free copies.

If there is no copyright notice, nor Library of Congress Catalog number (will be a numeric string between five and six digits--that should give you copyright info as well, search on LCCN at loc-dot-gov), anywhere on any of the flyleaves, you should be kosher. Also check if the book is available on archive-dot-org, if it is, for sure it's out of copyright.

Here is some general info on determining copyright status:
http://copyright.gov/circs/circ22.pdf

I'm not sure if that's helpful? Sorry for the weird addresses, DW won't let me post more than one URL anon.

Oh, I'm not worried about the legal consequences. I really don't think there would be any. I'm just having a bit of a moral crisis re:digital piracy.

I did search the LoC catalogue available on Google Books, and, to my puzzlement, did not find anything. Maybe I did something wrong. It should be there, seeing as it was published prior to 1978?

But I will get my hands on a hard copy in the near future, I think, so if that's the only sure way to check if it's copyrighted, I will be able to use it.

Thank you, though :)

Is this the book: http://catalog.loc.gov/vwebv/holdingsInfo?searchId=22304&recCount=25&recPointer=2&bibId=7509673

The published date shown is 1963 and it was catalogued by the LOC in 1963 because the LCCN begins with 63.

And you can search the LOC online catalog directly (you said you looked via googlebooks?) at catalog.loc.gov

Thank you!! I was a bit confused about how the catalogue system works - some sources said that the bit of the catalogue prior to 1978 is only available through googlebooks. Indeed, this is the book.

I had to look into this a bit, as I use the LOC for cataloguing books in my own library, but being a school library, it's all fairly recent stuff.

Also, in their FAQ, I found this, which may be what's confusing you? :
"Records for works registered with the Copyright Office after 1978 are searchable in the Copyright Catalog. Card entries for some items cataloged before 1980 are only available to researchers onsite in the Library's Main Card Catalog."

Okay, so I think we're looking at two different databases here. The full cataloguing information is what you get from LOC Online Catalog (which is what people like me, cataloguers/librarians want). BUT there's also the Copyright Office Catalog, which has it's own searchable database here (for works registered AFTER 1978 only): http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=First

I found your book, and the if I read the record correctly, the copyright was renewed in 1991, so yeah, it won't be out of © for a while yet.
http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=13&ti=1,13&Search_Arg=Eugene%20Onegin&Search_Code=TALL&CNT=25&PID=oM7kCwJMkfe3547l6uS9qdVKrlF-&SEQ=20150112160817&SID=2

And hey, I learned something new looking this up. I've never had any need to use anything but the main online catalogue; it's cool they have just the © thing as well.

I see now. Yes, I was looking at the other catalogue :) Thanks; I'm bookmarking this thread in case I ever need to do a check of this kind again.

(So you're a librarian? That's cool! I mean, I guess it can be a fairly boring/exhausting job to some people, but as a literature lover, I have a great fondness for the profession).

You're welcome, glad I was able to help you out.

I'm actually a Library Technician (difference is the amount of education and thus pay, one receives after said education; librarians have a Bachelor's degree of some sort along with an MLS, Master of Library Sciences; LTs have a 2 year community college diploma.) I run three school libraries atm, all elementary schools, so yeah, it can be tiring--especially since I'm the only library staff in those schools and am responsible for all areas of running it. I think it's like most jobs--some days it rocks, other days, not so much.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ SECRET POST #2930 ]

Is Walter Arndt's translation of Onegin copyrighted?

Re: Is Walter Arndt's translation of Onegin copyrighted?

Re: Is Walter Arndt's translation of Onegin copyrighted?

Re: Is Walter Arndt's translation of Onegin copyrighted?

Re: Is Walter Arndt's translation of Onegin copyrighted?

Re: Is Walter Arndt's translation of Onegin copyrighted?

Re: Is Walter Arndt's translation of Onegin copyrighted?

Re: Is Walter Arndt's translation of Onegin copyrighted?

Re: Is Walter Arndt's translation of Onegin copyrighted?

Re: Is Walter Arndt's translation of Onegin copyrighted?

Re: Is Walter Arndt's translation of Onegin copyrighted?

Re: Is Walter Arndt's translation of Onegin copyrighted?

Re: Is Walter Arndt's translation of Onegin copyrighted?

Re: Is Walter Arndt's translation of Onegin copyrighted?