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NOTICE - Fawcett Comics changes due to copyright status

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larrytalbot:
Thanks for the clarification CapDJ. Looks like the corporations have it all their own way right now. I hope someday we can change the copyright laws back to their original intent, as mentioned by Blastaar

Snard:
I had an idea about these missing issues, which could solve a few issues. Would it be possible to put just the covers for these issues online? The file comment could indicate that the rest of the issue can't be hosted for legal reasons. This way, new uploaders would see the cover placeholder and be less inclined to upload a missing issue. Plus, the GCD details could be linked to the cover upload. I would think that just the covers would be okay, since GCD has been allowed to host even Disney, Marvel and DC covers for years now.

If covers are acceptable, then perhaps other partially allowed titles, such as Super Duck and Wilbur, could potentially be filled in (up to the 1960 cutoff).

Does anyone else think this would be a reasonable compromise?

Yoc:
That's an interesting idea Moose.  We will talk it over in the staff room.
If needed a generic cover for them all but an entry with the GCD ID info still listed would work.

-Yoc

DennyWilson:
What about the Canadian "Whites"? The WW2 Era B&W Canadian comics - They licenced the American scripts but drew new artwork - there's been a couple of articles recently around the web -(Wish I could recall the links at the moment)

Not many of those have turned up on line,sadly.

What's interesting is the renewal on the following books

Captain Marvel Adventures 3-6
Whiz Comics #3-6
Captain Marvel Story Book #s 1-2

All of those would have come due for renewal in the late 1960's, long before Fawcett licenced The Marvels to DC/National - the rest of the renewals fall into the time-period when they had licenced out to DC (and by extension, to Filmation) and beyond. Interesting that they were renewed and others were not.

The other thing that is interesting is the "Gap" in the renewals in the later part of the runs - those fall around 1953  (Which means the renewals would have been due c.1981) - clearly paperwork went missing and DC and/or Fawcett never bothered to double check when they filed the renewals.

But the best thing to come out of this is now it's 100% clear of what DC owns and doesn't with regards to past Fawcett copyrights.

JoeNewberry:
It's funny this should come up as I finally finished my animated version of Whiz Comics #2.  I actually had an almost identical list of "off limits" issues that I knew I couldn't adapt, if I ever got more than one done every few years.

In a way, it's encouraging that they were narrow in their demands, rather than trying to threaten you guys in to taking down everything in the Fawcett section and hoping you wouldn't call their bluff, the way the Edgar Rice Burroughs and Arthur Conan Doyle estate's do it. 

You know this January was the first time new works fell in to the public domain in 20 years.  Maybe corporate America will be satisfied with what they have for awhile and not try for another extension.  Steamboat Willie almost belongs to everybody at last.

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