Re: [dvd-discuss] Barnes & Noble Public Domain Books

[Kurt Hockenbury <khockenb(at)stevens-tech.edu>]

On Fri, 22 Nov 2002, Tim Neu wrote:

> I picked up a copy of the classic "The Red Badge of Courage" by Stephen
> Crane at Barnes and Noble recently, and found something I thought was
> quite upsetting.
> In the front was the following text:
>
> All rights reserved.  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in
> any manner whatsoever without the written permission of the Publsher (in
> this case, Barnes & Noble, Inc).
>
> This book as from a large collection of public domain books that B&N sells
> under their own brand.   Which is great - but in that case the publisher
> has no business reserving any rights under copyright.

What also bothers me about the notice you show here is there is no date
attached to it.  I also noticed this disturbing trend on recent DVDs.  For
instance, "Monsters, Inc.", the back cover says:

   This product (including its soundtrack) is authorized for sale in U.S.A.
   only.  This product is authorized for private use only.  All other rights
   reserved.  Unless expressly authorized in writing by the copyright owner,
   any copying, exhibition, export, distribution or other use of this product
   or any part of it is strictly prohibited.  Distributed by Buena Vista Home
   Entertainment, Inc., Dept. CS, Burbank, California 91521.  Made in U.S.A.
   (23968-1)  (c) Disney Enterprises, Inc./Pixar Animation Studios.

Theorectically, as things stand at the moment, this product should be entering
the public domain 95 years after publication.  But when would that be?  The
copyright notice doesn't say.