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Can the publisher prolong the copyright by changing the drawings in the book ?

Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2016 2:40 pm
by Zeyar Shwe
John Thompson's Easiest piano course is in PD in Canada. In the later publication of the book of the original 1955 The Wills Music Co, ), the original drawings were changed by the publisher ( publisher- International Music Publications Ltd, England ) but there is no mention of who made the new drawings. There is also a note saying ' Reproducing this music in any form is illegal and forbidden by Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.'

Does it mean that while the 1955 edition is in PD but not the editions after the drawings have been changed? Can you really prolong the copyright duration by just changing the pictures in the book although the book is the same?

I will be interested to know because I am not sure whether some of J Thompson's books are still in PD if the publisher has changed the original drawings (although there is no mention of who the artist was who redrew the pictures).

Re: Can the publisher prolong the copyright by changing the drawings in the book ?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 6:55 pm
by Carolus
In a sense, yes. For example, if the publisher of Thompson's book added artwork by someone who lived until 1990 with attribution for it, the revised edition with new artwork is covered until 2041 in Canada.