# is the book out of copyright? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 17, 2003, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-book-out-of-copyright/175946 "2003-05-17T21:06:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-book-out-of-copyright/175946/21 "2003-05-19T01:16:33Z")
Your nearest [federal depository library](http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/locators/findlibs/) may have a set of the U.S. Copyright Catalog, showing both new copyrights and renewals. The renewal on that book was due in 1951. (Renewals are on-line from 1978 onward.) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-book-out-of-copyright/175946/22 "2003-05-19T01:34:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Exapno Mapcase \* > **Chuck, I’m really surprised at you. You’re usually a rock in these copyright contretemps and now this. What were you thinking of?** Mind burp. For some reason I was thinking 17 years, which was the term for a patent, I believe. Getting old. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-book-out-of-copyright/175946/23 "2003-05-19T01:59:30Z")
again, thank you all very much! hh [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-book-out-of-copyright/175946.md?page=1)