Hi Melanie,
> Check this site to search for it:
>
> http://cocatalog.loc.gov/
Thanks. I wasn't aware of that catalog. It is labeled "Copyright Catalog (1978 to present)" so I am assuming it may not have older stuff unless the copyright was renewed after 1977.
Just as an FYI, a keyword anywhere search containing all the words, "Seattle World['s] Fair" only returned four items: a photo of Elvis, a text about Elvis ("My Adventures With Elvis, 1962: My road trip with Elvis Presley to the Seattle World Fair."), and two works of music. A search using the other "official" name, "Century 21 Exposition" returned two items (one unrelated to the Fair). Also the records contain no images, just a very minimalist description of the item, which makes it hard to match something like a decal or postcard. Interesting resource though.
-- Michael
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Hogue Melanie
> Sent: Friday, December 09, 2011 2:18 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] copyright/fair use considerations for re-using
> Seattle World's Fair images
>
> Check this site to search for it:
>
> http://cocatalog.loc.gov/
>
> My library department used to help people with this all the time. It is
> very tedious and could be a mistake to assume that, if you don't find it,
> it doesn't exist. If there is money at stake, you could hire a copyright
> search attorney.
>
> Melanie Amy Hogue
> Manager of Online Resources & Reports
> Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library
> 423-757-5114
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: Code for Libraries on behalf of Doran, Michael D
> Sent: Fri 12/9/2011 1:34 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [CODE4LIB] copyright/fair use considerations for re-using Seattle
> World's Fair images
>
>
>
> I was hoping to re-use/re-purpose a couple of 1962 Seattle World's Fair
> images found on the interwebs [1][2]. Both images were originally created
> for souvenir decals.
>
> According to the U.S. Copyright Office's "Copyrights Basics" [3] section on
> works originally created and published or registered before January 1,
> 1978, "copyright endured for a first term of 28 years from the date it was
> secured" -- i.e. for these images, from 1962 to 1990. It goes on to say
> that "During the last (28th) year of the first term, the copyright was
> eligible for renewal." This however, was *not* an automatic renewal.
>
> So, unless the copyright was explicitly renewed in 1990, the images are in
> the public domain. Since these images were for souvenir decals (rather
> than something like a poster), I'm inclined to think the original copyright
> owner probably didn't renew the copyright. However, I don't know who the
> original copyright owner is and really have no way of finding out, and
> therefore I can't ascertain whether or not the copyright was renewed.
>
> For those with more experience in copyright, any thoughts regarding
> situations like this?
>
> I realize this isn't a coding question, but figured I might get some
> helpful responses from those of y'all working in archives and various
> digital projects where copyright issues regularly come up.
>
> ps I've eliminated the "Century 21 Exposition" logo in my proposed reuse,
> if that matters (on one image, there is a registered trademark symbol next
> to the logo). I'm also not retaining the original "Seattle World's Fair"
> text.
>
> -- Michael
>
> [1] http://www.flickr.com/photos/hollywoodplace/6007390480/
>
> [2]
> http://media.photobucket.com/image/seattle%20world%2527s%20fair%20monorail/
> bananaphone5000/NEWGORILLA/SeattleWFDecal.jpg
>
> [3] http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.pdf
>
> # Michael Doran, Systems Librarian
> # University of Texas at Arlington
> # 817-272-5326 office
> # 817-688-1926 mobile
> # [log in to unmask]
> # http://rocky.uta.edu/doran/
