Freethought & Rationalism Archive

countjulian · 01-10-2006, 02:41 PM

Hey, I'm planning of putting up my own website, and I want to put some of the orations of Libanius, from the II Loeb volume, on it. I am not sure, though, of the legality of such action. Of course the Greek text itself is quite old, but (since most people, including myself, are not fluent in ancient Greek) my question is whetrher putting up the translation is legal. The translation itself was done by a fellow named A.F. Norman, and the second page says it was printed in England, and has a little copyright symbol followed by "The President and Fellows of Harvard College 1977." The ISBN in America is 0-674-99497-4 and in Britian 0 434 99452 9. Any help is appreciated.

Toto · 01-10-2006, 03:01 PM

You are asking whether this work is in the public domain or not.

According to this site

Quote:

WHEN U.S. WORKS PASS INTO THE PUBLIC DOMAIN
By Lolly Gasaway, University of North Carolina

Definition: A public domain work is a creative work that is not protected by copyright and which may be freely used by everyone. The reasons that the work is not protected include: (1) the term of copyright for the work has expired; (2) the author failed to satisfy statutory formalities to perfect the copyright or (3) the work is a work of the U.S. Government.

* * *

DATE OF WORK = Published from 1964 - 77

PROTECTED FROM = When published with notice

TERM = 28 years for first term; now automatic extension of 67 years for second term

So as far as American law goes, it looks like that translation is still under copyright.

countjulian · 01-10-2006, 03:11 PM

But I'm not sure. Is the whole translation copyrighted? May I adapt the translation (I know a very little bit of Greek)? Can I find this guy and ask permission?

Toto · 01-10-2006, 03:17 PM

The copyright belongs to Harvard College, which would have to give permission.

Peter Kirby has a lot of experience with copyright problems.

countjulian · 01-10-2006, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Peter Kirby has a lot of experience with copyright problems.

Too bad Kirby found a girl friend

01-10-2006, 02:41 PM	#1
countjulian Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: In the torture chambers of Pinochet's Chile Posts: 2,112	Libanius Hey, I'm planning of putting up my own website, and I want to put some of the orations of Libanius, from the II Loeb volume, on it. I am not sure, though, of the legality of such action. Of course the Greek text itself is quite old, but (since most people, including myself, are not fluent in ancient Greek) my question is whetrher putting up the translation is legal. The translation itself was done by a fellow named A.F. Norman, and the second page says it was printed in England, and has a little copyright symbol followed by "The President and Fellows of Harvard College 1977." The ISBN in America is 0-674-99497-4 and in Britian 0 434 99452 9. Any help is appreciated.

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01-10-2006, 03:11 PM	#3
countjulian Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: In the torture chambers of Pinochet's Chile Posts: 2,112	But I'm not sure. Is the whole translation copyrighted? May I adapt the translation (I know a very little bit of Greek)? Can I find this guy and ask permission?

01-10-2006, 03:17 PM	#4
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	The copyright belongs to Harvard College, which would have to give permission. Peter Kirby has a lot of experience with copyright problems.

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