[freeciv-data] Re: General graphics for Freeciv-feedback request

On Thu, Sep 12, 2002 at 12:44:59AM +0200, T.J.T van Kooten wrote:
> 
> Thanks for the feedback,  
> 
> At this point I'm not sure about the legal aspects either. The 
> question I'm trying to find an answer to right now is if I 
> created a new work by scanning and cleaning up the 
> originals. If that's the case I created some copyrighted work. 
> The same way a new translation of Cervantes "Don Quichote 
> de la Mancha" can also be copyrighted.
> 
> Public domain would probably the easiest for all interested, 
> but GPL does give you a foot behind the door. The Hires 
> graphic set was released under GPL for example.
>  
> One thing is absolutely certain though: "the original printed 
> work these digital scans are based on are 100% PUBLIC 
> DOMAIN"
> 
> One point is that there maybe be some long gone publisher 
> out there who once owned similar copies, slapped his 
> copyright notice on 20-30 years ago, touched them up and 
> reprinted them under the name "19th cent classic 
> illustrations" with a fresh copyright notice. And no one 
> bothered to check during all those years if that copyright was 
> actually valid. Shouldn't pose a problem if I released these 
> digital scans into PD as I have the original work as evidence. 
> In fact, that publisher would be breaking the law (see below).

I would be inclined to believe that simply scanning and doing touchup does
not constitute an original work. The question is: do you believe that you
_need_ to be entitled to the copyright?

-mike