Discussion:
Oregon - There is a book that has been out of print for quite a long time. It was copyrighted in 1969. It has been out of print for 20 years or more. And the publisher who owns the copywrite (or did own it) doesn't appear to be interested in printing it again.
How long does this copyright last? How can I find out when they last copyrighted it and if the copyright is still in effect?
I am interested in printing and selling the book myself. But I want to make sure I don't violate their copyright, if it's still in effect.
Answer:
How long does this copyright last? Unless the author has explicitly placed the work into the public domain, the copyright on the work will expire 95 years from the date of publication, or 2064. A long time, eh?
How can I find out when they last copyrighted it and if the copyright is still in effect? Since the book was published in 1969, the first term of copyright would have expired in 1997, or 28 years from date of publication. However, in 1978, renewal of the copyright became automatic, so there was no need to renew; therefore, like I noted above, unless the copyright owner explicitly placed the work into the public domain, it is covered by copyright well into this century.
I am interested in printing and selling the book myself. But I want to make sure I don't violate their copyright, if it's still in effect. It's almost certainly still in effect. You'll need permission from the copyright holder to reproduce the book. The copyright may be owner by the publishing company, by the author or his heirs (if he or she is dead), or by someone else. You can start with the Copyright Office webpage to search for a registered copyright -- -- then maybe try the publisher, etc.
Answer:
After reading some other posts, I've come to find out that any book after 1923 is copyrighted for 75 years. So I'll assume that even though the author has died and the book has been out of print for a long time, that it's still under copyright.
So my only real option is to get permission or a license to reproduce this book. That leaves me with just one questions then;
How do I find out who currently owns the copyright for this book?
Answer:
After reading some other posts, I've come to find out that any book after 1923 is copyrighted for 75 years. No, that's not quite correct. Anything published before 1923 is in the public domain; After 1923 but before 1978, the term is 95 years from date of publication (works first published between 1923 and 1963 may be expired if they failed to renew their copyright after 28 years, but you can't count on it). After 1978, the term is life of the author + 70 years, plus a few different technicalities in certain circumstances, but that's the gist of it.
So my only real option is to get permission or a license to reproduce this book. That is correct.
How do I find out who currently owns the copyright for this book? See my earlier post. Check the copyright office, the publisher, etc. It may be easy to find out, or it may be quite a detective job.
Answer:
I checked the copyright office via the link you provided (thanks!).
I came up with nothing. I searched by name, title, etc. I didn't come up with anything. How can it be that I didn't find it?
I guess I'll have to call the publisher tomorrow. Any other ideas where I can search until then? I have an ISBN number.
Answer:

How do I find out who currently owns the copyright for this book?
My response:
I guess you're not reading close enough. You were already advised to:
"You can start with the Copyright Office webpage to search for a registered copyright -- -- then maybe try the publisher, etc."
IAAL
Answer:
Yah, thanks. I read that part. I was inquring about the "etc." part. You said I could check the copyright office (which I did) and then check with the Publisher, etc. So is there something to the "etc." part? or are my only options just
1) The copyright office
and
2) The publisher?
That's it? Those are the only two places I can check???
It's just that I can't talk to the publisher now at 9:30 p.m. So I was thinking maybe there was somewhere else I could check right now while I had some free time. If not, just say so. No need to be an ass.

"Etc." Def: And other unspecified things of the same class; and so forth.

I was hoping maybe you'd make these "unspecified things" more specific. If there aren't any other options. You shouldn't have said, "etc." But by using that term, you are implying there were some other unspecified places I could check. Then when I ask what they are, you tell me I am not reading closely enough???