[Bryan24]

A question of legalities here. Is the book not copyrighted? If it is, is this not a violation of the copyright laws?

Does his book fall outside of the old 28 year rule?

Educate me here. I don't understand how this can be Okee-Dokee?

[pabianice]

A question of legalities here. Is the book not copyrighted? If it is, is this not a violation of the copyright laws? Does his book fall outside of the old 28 year rule? Educate me here. I don't understand how this can be Okee-Dokee?

You mean as law-abiding as the rest of Kerry's campaign?

[Hurricane Andrew]

If I may quote from www.bitlaw.com/copyright/duration.html

Works Originally Created and Published or Registered Before January 1, 1978: This is governed by statutory section 17 USC 304. Under the law in effect before 1978, copyright was secured either on the date a work was published or on the date of registration if the work was registered in unpublished form. In either case, the copyright endured for a first term of 28 years from the date it was secured. During the last (28th) year of the first term, the copyright was eligible for a second renewal term of an additional 28 years. If no application was filed for renewal, the work would enter the public domain after the initial 28 year term.

I don't believe that Kerry or VVAW filed for an extension of that term. Since the book was first published in 1971, the 28 year expiry would be 1999, so we are outside of that time frame.

Then again, I'm not a lawyer, though I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once...

[don-o]

It may or may not be kosher Vis a vis copyright.

Yet, the clear and present danger of a potential Kerry presidency should override that.

[kevkrom]

A question of legalities here. Is the book not copyrighted? If it is, is this not a violation of the copyright laws?

That's a crucial question for the PDFs... I also understand, though, that the entire text of the book was read into the Congressional Record, and the Record can be reproduced verbatim.