[Boatanchors] Heathkit Manuals

[Kenneth D. Grimm, K4XL]

There has been a lot of discussion about the disappearance of the 
Heathkit manuals from BAMA.
It has always been my policy to immediately remove material from BAMA 
any time a copyright was exercised.  The current owner of the Heathkit 
copyright bought and paid for it and has a right to receive a return on 
his investment.  When he contacted me to exercise the copyright, I 
immediately agreed to remove the Heathkit manuals. 

Copyright is as American as apple pie and is protected by the 
Constitution and the laws made under it by the Congress.  While I may be 
best known for making manuals and schematics available for free 
downloading on BAMA, I'm here to tell you that I believe in the 
principle of copyright and have absolutely no trouble with the exercise 
of that right by an owner....nor should you.

There seems to be some uncertainty about the length that a copyright is 
valid.  Some seem to think that copyrighted material enters the public 
domain after 20 years.  That is simply not true.  The Heathkit material 
copyright extends for 95 years from the copyright date.  So, that manual 
for the SB-10 Sideband Adapter copyrighted in 1960 is protected until 
2055 when it will become a part of the public domain.  I seriously doubt 
that I will be around to add it back to the BAMA collection at that time!

For a succinct presentation of the length of time for a work to become 
part of the public domain, see http://www.unc.edu/~unclng/public-d.htm


73,

-- 
Ken K4XL
k4xl at arrl.net

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