The official source for
finding out whether some work is copyright
protected is U.S. Copyright Office. The website for that office is
www.copyright.gov
and has a simple and very much self-explanatory layout.
The copyright laws are listed under LAW AND POLICY >
Copyright
Law
The regulations are also explained in more detail in the following
circulars:
Copyright
Duration and Renewal
Some instructions on how to investigate the copyright status is
provided in the following:
How to
Investigate the Copyright
Status of a Work
The Copyright Card
Catalog and the Online Files of the Copyright Office
While trying to decipher legal language may require some initial effort
and skill, the applicable regulations could be summarized as following:
Summary of Copyright Duration Rules:
Initial
term of copyright protection is 28 years with a renewal extension of 67
years making the total term of copyright protection 95 years.
For works published before 1964, a renewal notice had to be filed on
the 28th year from the initial publication; otherwise, the work lost
its copyright protection.
For works published in 1964 and on, copyright protection is
automatically renewed - filing a renewal notice is optional.
Most of the works listed on this website ARE in a copyright protected
status, at least as far as the U.S. Copyright Office is
concerned.
The current owner of copyrights is the
Church of Spiritual Technology (CST)
just as it currently states on the official Scientology website. CST,
as a corporate entity, acquired copyrights to L. Ron Hubbard's works in
1993 through a transfer from
Author's Family Trust-B whose
trustee was Norman
F. Starkey. This trust was supposedly set up pursuant to Ron Hubbard's
will.
Any documents (copyright registrations, renewals, transfers...
etc) filed with the Office starting with January 1, 1978
forward are accessible through its
ONLINE
DATABASE. Anything prior to that has to be searched manually
at the Office in Washington D.C.
The document number for the transfer is
V2927P238 (search the database if
the link doesn't work).
There are over 7,000 items listed in the transfer. The only
registration numbers we are interested in here are the ones that start
with an A (original copyright notice) or an RE (renewal notice). The
transfer includes many similar and other titles with numbers that start
with TX (for text) or VA (for visual art). Generally, these are
copyright notices for text revisions and visual work in republished
editions.
The transfer, links to regulations, and the table below are also
provided in
EXCEL FILE for your convenience.
Areas of interest and subject to further research have been highlighted
in YELLOW. The most important item in need of further research right
now is
Dianetics:
The Original Thesis. Neither the original
copyright
registration (starts with A) or renewal notice (starts with RE) appear
in the Transfer Document. This MAY be an indicator that the copyright
for this book was not renewed on time and so lost its copyright
protection. This must be verified with the U.S. Copyright
Office
through manual search. To have the Office staff search for it and
provide search results remotely could add up to $1,000 in fees for just
looking up one book.
If you wish to help with this project and live near Washington D.C.,
you can visit the Office and do a manual search. Here is what is needed:
1) A copy of the original
copyrights registration (should have been in late 1940's or early
1950's).
2) A copy of the renewal document if there is one (1976 or around that
year).
3) If there is no renewal then get an official confirmation from the
Copyrights Office that the book is no longer copyright protected.
4) Verify that copies of these documents can be posted on the Internet
for public viewing.
5) Email digital copies to truelrh@truelrh.com
so it can be posted on this website.
This is on volunteer basis only. Ideally, it would be great to have
digital copies of original copyright registrations and renewals (where
applicable) for all the books listed on this website. These could then
be included on pages containing basic information.
Also, email if you believe any information on this page is not correct,
but please, do not email for basic questions regarding the copyrights
in general. Use the information provided on this page as well as the
official website for the U.S. Copyright Office. If you are
still not
sure, you are best to consult a qualified copyrights attorney.
Note, this project is only interested in easily verifyable information
based on publically available documents. The question of how exactly
Norman Starkey (as a trustee) and then the Church of Spiritual
Technology came into posession of the copyrights seems to be a highly
controversial and convoluted area which is outside of the scope of this
website. You can read more about it on this website:
http://sc-i-r-s-ology.freiescientologen.de/documents/1982-05-10-7aft.html
Please note, TrueLRH.com is not in any way affiliated with the above
website or its creators. It is provided for informational purposes
only,
as an aid for anyone wishing to further their research. Any questions
regarding the information presented in the above website should be
directed to its creators using the means provided in its "Contact Us"
section.
| TITLE |
FIRST PUBLISHED |
ISBN |
U.S Library of
Congress No. |
REQUIRED RENEWAL YEAR
(for works published before 1964) |
COPYRIGHT EXPIRATION
YEAR |
In Transfer Document |
Internet Database
Record |
Comment from Internet
Database Record |
| Dianetics: The
Original Thesis |
Early 1948 |
0-88404-002-X |
|
1976 |
2044 |
original not in
transfer - further research needed |
|
No renewal
registration found. |
| Dianetics: The
Evolution of a Science |
May 1950 |
0-88404-017-8 |
|
1978 |
2046 |
RE 199-238 |
RE0000199238 / 1983-04-01 |
Renewal registration for: A00000338764 / 1955-06-09 |
| Dianetics: The Modern
Science of Mental Health |
May 9, 1950 |
0-88404-000-3 |
73-184345 |
1978 |
2046 |
R676199 |
renewal document not
in Internet Database |
|
| Science of Survival |
June 1951 |
0-88404-001-1 |
51-5566 |
1979 |
2047 |
A56697 |
RE0000027043 / 1979-05-21 |
Renewal registration for: A00000056697 / 1951-06-28 |
| Self Analysis |
August 1951 |
0-88404-014-3 |
|
1979 |
2047 |
RE 27-058 |
RE0000027058 / 1979-05-21 |
Renewal registration for: A00000059382 / 1951-09-03 |
| Advanced Procedure
and Axioms |
November 1951 |
0-88404-021-6 |
|
1979 |
2047 |
RE 29-964 |
RE0000029964 / 1979-07-25 |
Renewal registration for: AA0000204347 / 1951-11-21 |
| Handbook for Preclears |
December 1951 |
ISBN Unknown |
|
1979 |
2047 |
RE 29-963 |
RE0000029963 / 1979-07-25 |
Renewal registration for: AA0000202780 / 1951-12-21 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
RE 29-965 |
RE0000029965 / 1979-07-25 |
Renewal registration for: AA0000206721 / 1951-12-26 |
| Scientology: A
History of Man |
July 1952 |
ISBN Unknown |
RC461,MCAT |
1980 |
2048 |
RE 58-776 |
RE0000058776 / 1980-05-19 |
Renewal registration for: A00000070416 / 1952-07-25 |
| Scientology 8-80 |
November 1952 |
0-88404-020-8 |
|
1980 |
2048 |
RE 58-777 |
RE0000058777 / 1980-05-19 |
Renewal registration for: A00000074549 / 1952-11-04 |
| Scientology 8-8008 |
December 1952 |
ISBN Unknown |
|
1980 |
2048 |
RE 124-799 |
RE0000124799 / 1981-12-28 |
Renewal registration for: AI0000003820 / 1952-12-10 |
| Dianetics 55! |
April 1954 |
0-88404-003-8 |
|
1982 |
2050 |
RE 144-224 |
RE0000144224 / 1982-11-12 |
Renewal registration for: A00000171677 / 1954-12-28 |
| The Creation of Human
Ability |
April 1955 |
0-88404-011-9 |
|
1983 |
2051 |
RE 167-335 |
RE0000167335 / 1983-05-05 |
Renewal registration for: A00000201476 / 1955-04-10 |
| Scientology: The
Fundamentals of Thought |
September 1956 |
0-88404-018-6 |
|
1984 |
2052 |
RE 208-612 |
RE0000208612 / 1984-04-17 |
Renewal registration for: A00000281963 / 1956-11-15 |
| The Problems of Work |
December 1956 |
0-88404-007-0 |
|
1984 |
2052 |
RE 208-611 |
RE0000208611 / 1984-04-17 |
Renewal registration for: A00000279758 / 1957-01-15 |
| All About Radiation |
May 1967 |
0-88404-062-3 |
|
automatic |
2063 |
|
|
|
| Scientology: A New
Slant on Life |
December 1965 |
0-88404-013-5 |
|
automatic |
2061 |
No 631-251 |
|
|
| Introduction to
Scientology Ethics |
July 1968 |
0-88404-015-1 |
|
automatic |
2064 |
A544559 |
|
|
| Scientology 0-8 |
November 1970 |
0-88404-009-7 |
|
automatic |
2066 |
A648187 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Notes on the Lectures |
January 1951 |
0-88404-005-4 |
|
1979 |
2047 |
RE 29-958 |
RE0000029958 / 1979-07-25 |
Renewal registration for: A00000054369 / 1951-02-20 |
| Child Dianetics |
October 1951 |
0-88404-022-4 |
|
1979 |
2047 |
RE 3-635 |
RE0000003635 / 1978-05-22 |
Renewal registration for: AA0000178150 / 1950-12-23
|
| How to Live Though an
Executive |
April 1953 |
ISBN Unknown |
|
1981 |
2049 |
RE 98-933 |
RE0000098933 / 1981-08-14 |
Renewal registration for: A00000338763 / 1953-07-07
|
| Have You Lived Before
This Life? |
March 1960 |
0-88404-004-6 |
|
1988 |
2056 |
RE 405-042 |
RE0000405042 / 1988-12-06 |
Renewal registration for: A00000481737 / 1960-11-29 |
| The Phoenix Lectures |
August 1968 |
0-88404-006-2 |
|
automatic |
2064 |
A603475 |
|
|
| Mission Into Time |
September 1973 |
0-88404-023-2 |
|
automatic |
2069 |
|
|
|
| Hymn of Asia |
January 1975 |
0-88404-035-6 |
|
automatic |
2071 |
|
|
|
| Dianetics Today |
March 1975 |
0-88404-036-4 |
|
automatic |
2071 |
A622854 |
|
|
| Dianetics and
Scientology Technical Dictionary |
June 1975 |
0-88404-037-2 |
|
automatic |
2071 |
A672335 |
|
|
| Have You Lived Before
This Life? |
October 1977 |
0-88484-055-0 |
|
automatic |
2073 |
|
|
|
| Scientology group
auditor's handbook volume 1 |
June 1954 |
|
|
1982 |
2050 |
RE 144-218 |
RE0000144218 / 1982-11-12 |
Renewal registration for: A00000147939 / 1954-06-03 |
| Scientology group
auditor's handbook volume 2 |
June 1954 |
|
|
1982 |
2050 |
RE 144-220 |
RE0000144220 /
1982-11-12 |
Renewal registration for: A00000159746 / 1954-09-22 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Control And The
Mechanics of S.C.S. |
December 1957 |
ISBN Unknown |
|
1985 |
2053 |
|
|
|
| Axioms &
Logics |
August 1958 |
ISBN Unknown |
|
1986 |
2054 |
|
|
|
| E-Meter Essential |
May 1961 |
ISBN Unknown |
|
1989 |
2057 |
A703263 |
|
|
| The Book of Case
Remedies |
November 1964 |
ISBN Unknown |
|
automatic |
2060 |
|
|
|
| The Book of E-Meter
Drills |
February 1965 |
ISBN Unknown |
|
automatic |
2061 |
A670971 |
|
|
| The Book Introducing
the E-Meter |
September 1966 |
ISBN Unknown |
|
automatic |
2062 |
A708691 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| OEC Volumes &
The Management Series |
March 1974 |
|
|
automatic |
2070 |
|
|
|
| The Technical
Bulletins of Dianetics and Scientology |
August 1976 |
|
|
automatic |
2072 |
|
|
|
| Modern Management
Technology Defined |
December 1976 |
|
|
automatic |
2072 |
|
|
|
| The Volunteer
Minister's Handbook |
October 1976 |
0-88404-039-9 |
76-27819 |
automatic |
2072 |
A864258 |
|
|
| What is Scientology? |
December 1978 |
0-88404-061-5 |
78-71006 |
automatic |
|
A134251; A753448 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Basic Study Manual |
1972 |
ISBN Unknown |
|
automatic |
2068 |
A386190 |
|
|
| Success Through
Communication |
1980 |
ISBN Unknown |
|
automatic |
2076 |
|
|
|
| Scientology: Clear
Procedure Issue One |
1976 |
ISBN Unknown |
|
automatic |
2072 |
|
|
|