Subject: Kipling 
Distribution: world
Organization: Keristor Systems
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 13:07:27 +0000


In article <n0779t@ofa123.fidonet.org>
           Mary.Creasey@f524.n102.z1.fidonet.org writes:

>Not the estate per se, but the National Trust, which (I THINK) is
>a government agency for the preservation of cultural this'n'thats.
>A number of estates and artwork are owned by this trust.
>Any of you folks over there can give a better answer? Chris? Mike?

I certainly can!  Actually, that's a fair description of the National
Trust...

I just called them and spoke to their Publications Administrator, who
confirmed that they do handle Kipling's works.  Apparently they are just
taking legal advice on the exact position WRT America (now if you were
all British, there would be no problem <grin>).  The situation is as
follows:

Some of Kipling's work (most of the earlier published stuff) is now out
of copyright in Britain.  (It may not be in other countries because of
different publishing dates).  Some is definitely still in copyright.
The bottom line is that if anyone is doing anything with *any* of his
work you need to contact the National Trust so that they can confirm the
status.  I believe that some things may have had their copyright
renewed.

The person to contact is:

    Sheila Mortimer
    Publications Administrator
    The National Trust
    36 Queen Anne's Gate
    London    SW1H 9HS
    England

The phone numbers are

    Voice:  +44 (0)71 222 9251      9am to 5pm London time
    Fax:    +44 (0)71 222 5097

Note for anyone not used to International numbers - if calling from
outside Britain, replace '+' with the international dialling prefix (011
in America) and omit the '(0)'; if within Britain leave off the '+44'
and use the '0'.

Alternatively, contact me (via EMAIL - don't post it on the newsgroup
unless you have no choice) at one of my net addresses below and I'll
pass the information on and get a reply.

The information that they need is:

The title of the poem or extract that you intend to use;

The purpose for which it will be used (song, public reading, whatever);

Distribution of the completed work (North America, Europe, worldwide,
etc.  - if it's being posted on the net then 'worldwide' would seem a
good choice!

Whether it's 'for profit' - if you're making a tape (like Leslie Fish's
songs) then how many you expect to sell, whether it's 'just for
friends', etc.

>Kipling died in 1940; I don't know what the British copyright law
>would be.

According to the NT he died in 1936 - I wonder what he was doing in
between?

As far as I know, the copyright runs from the publication date - since
some of his work wasn't published until after his death that may be why
there are discrepances.  Of course, I could be wrong about this - it's
not something I've dealt with before...

Chris

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*  chris@keris.demon.co.uk      *                                     *
*  chriscr@cix.compulink.co.uk  *  FIAWOL (Filking Is A Way Of Life)  *
*  100014.3217@compuserve.com   *                                     *
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