Dear Paul,
I think the prev. term was forty years, but I am sure I will be corrected
soon enough if I am wrong! As to when this was changed it was not that long
ago... within the last eight years I think.
With reprinting an 1840's book there will be no problem, however, if someone
else has already done a facsimile of this partic. book then you must
facsimile yours in a different way: viz., if a previous facsimile has been
reproduced faithfully to the original, the publisher of this holds copyright of that
format and you will have to choose a slightly different format. In other
words, the words themselves and the pictures therein are not copyrightable beyond
seventy years, but the way they are presented/published is (size of vol.,
font - though font is mostly irrelevant as public domain fonts are not
copyrightable). If you know your vol. has already been facsimiled it would be a good
idea you check all this formally by speaking to a Patent/Copyright Lawyer,
however, if none has been done, then we look forward to learning what your vol.
is about - after you have had it printed obviously!
Regards, Bernard
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