Book People Archive

On the Bottom, by Ellsberg

Does anyone know the copyright history of Edward Ellsberg's "On The
Bottom" (1928)? I was just asked to take it off my website by his grandson
who has "renewed the copyright".

I exchanged email with him and he seems reasonable enough, but he also
mentioned that a publisher had actually printed an illegal version which
is now sold through Amazon. He's planning a new edition of his own so he's
tracking down the illegal versions.

Since it's not a 1925 or older book I have to assume that he is correct,
but I was curious if there was more to the story. Why did so many people
assume it wasn't under copyright in the first place?

If I can remember to do so, I want to email him in a year from now and
find out how much money he made from the republication. I guess I don't
quite follow the motivation of trying to retain copyright on such an old
book. Wouldn't it be more fun to just publicize your famous grandfather
than just try to cash in on him?

Maybe I'd feel different if some of my relations had published a
important book... or maybe not!!

Charles Hall
Raleigh, NC

[Moderator: I'd originally listed the online book in 1998. I don't
 remember the exact circumstances, but in my email logs I
 can find at least one email message I'd received that claimed
 the copyright was not renewed.  Maybe those who put the book
 online at the time can tell us more.

 Now that many renewal scans are online, it can be seen that the copyright
 *was* renewed.  See page 690 of the copyright renewals for 1956
 (online at http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/cce/1956r.html )
 I will therefore be delisting this book, as per the copyright holder's
 request.  - JMO]