Copyright lookup?

[Tim Burton]

I have an old record from the mid-50's. It was made by a railroad company that went out of business. It is recordings of their locomotives How can I see if the copyright was renewed?

I have been thinking of putting the record onto CD and to sell it. I just don't want to get my butt sued for it.

[Apoptosis]

hum...

Every Musical Composition has a Copyright - http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ50.html

If it was once registered with a copyright you might be able to renew it... Tough question... I'd call the copyright office and inquire about it. I think the number is (202) 707-3000.

Renewing a Copyright: Applicable Laws

The copyright law was amended in 1992 to make renewal automatic and renewal registration optional for works originally copyrighted between January 1, 1964, and December 31, 1977. While this amendment to the current law makes renewal registration optional for works copyrighted between January 1, 1964, and December 31, 1977, there are a number of incentives that encourage the filing of a renewal application. Learn more from the U.S. Copyright Office

Who May Claim Renewal?

The following persons may usually claim copyright renewal in all types of works:

1. The author, if living, may claim as the author.
2. If the author is dead, the widow or widower of the author, or the child or children of the author, or both, may claim as the widow of the author or the widower of the author and/or the child of the deceased author or the children of the deceased author.
3. If there is no surviving widow, widower, or child, and the author left a will, the author's executors may claim as the executors of the author.
4. If there is no surviving widow, widower, or child, and the author left no will or the will has been discharged, the next of kin may claim as the next of kin of the deceased author, there being no will.

[T-Shirt]

having just researched this for somebody, I NOW know the place to start is
http://www.copyright.gov/records/
be aware that alomost anything ofany possible value has been reregistered to some squatter, hoping that someone like you will come along, want to make actual use of the item, and hopes to make you pay through the nose.