Lloyd Biggle, Jr.: are his novels in the public domain?

[Gail]

Sometimes I remember to look for the novels of Lloyd Biggle, Jr. at amazon.com, but not often. And which ones would I buy first, as funds do not run to the whole collection at once? It would be great if they could be podcast.

Anybody else know Jan Darzek?

[Nathan Lowell]

I don't see anything in the various text repositories on Biggle, but that's a good question. The titles to look at are those published before 1964. Hornet's Nest, Angry Espers, and the first Jan Darzek novel - All the Colors of Darkness. If they weren't renewed, then it's possible they're in the public domain. Anything after that falls under automatic renewal (I believe) and has a term of 95 years before it becomes available.

IANAL but I found NEW RULES FOR USING PUBLIC DOMAIN MATERIALS very helpful - if somewhat discouraging.

[Gail]

Nathan, I read a couple of screens and my eyes crossed, so thank you for the short version! My overall take is it's good that copyrights don't cover only Micky Mouse.

It seems to me those novels would make a good read-aloud story, only that's not a safe assumption to make until after you try it. And as there were pictures of his whole family on the book jackets, surely the rights are renewed.

[Nathan Lowell]

Well, anything after 64 is automatically renewed but according to the Copyright Office only 15% of copyrights (pre 64) have ever been renewed. The problem is you need a lawyer to chase them down and to prove due diligence in the case that you don't find the renewal.

It's possible that the estate would permit it, if you could find them.

[Gail]

Oh, so that's how that works. Forgotten Classics is presenting a novel (China Court) with permission from the author's estate.

Me? Heeding the caution from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, I'm not going to pronounce sentences at home without training.

[Kenneth Lloyd Biggle]

Gail,
I'm Kenneth Biggle, son of Lloyd Biggle, Jr. The copyrights are in my name and my sisters, and yes as Nathan stated, it takes and attorney.
We have actually never thought of podcasts. Right now we have a complete unpublished sci-fi manuscript that is taking up our time to prepare in an electronic form to submit to a couple of publishing sources. I'll bring up the podcast idea if we get that far.
Ken Biggle

[Gail]

Hi, Kenneth! I'm so glad you answered on this thread. My notification for replies on this thread included your entire name. So very cool.

Oh, man, I wish I could help you with the manuscript. Unfortunately you don't know me and I don't know manuscripts! You are welcome to anything in my brain that helps.

Of course you will get that far. Who wouldn't want it? I've been thinking for some time that the whole catalog ought to be re-issued. It must be Baen Books that re-issued all of James H. Schmitz, and they were edited by Eric Flint.

And I'm very pleased to have been the one to put podcasting in your mind. That will be wonderful.
And thanks for the info about attorneys. But seriously? I was whining trying to get someone else to read those novels.

[Jonathan Vanderford]

Kenneth,

I was exited to come across this thread. I'm a playwright and I've been considering adapting one of your father's works for the stage. I found this post while researching the rights for his work. I would like to discuss with you and the other copyright holders permission to do so.