Copywrite Question ... ???

[Goggle5]

How would one go about finding out who holds the copywrite for a game title?? I know that with the 2600 and with many of the older videogame systems (C64) most of the software companies have gone kaput many moons ago ... so who owns the licenses/copywrites for these titles?????

[DanBoris]

You would have to do some detective work to find this out. Companies rarely just disappear, thier assets are usually bought by other companies which I belive would include the copyrights. It would be interesting to find out what happens when a company does just go out of business. There are provisions in the copyright law for the transfer of copyrights when an author dies, but most games probably fall under the category "works made for hire" which I haven't been able to find as much info on.

 

Dan

[DanBoris]

I sent an e-mail to the US copyright office asking what happens to a companies copyrights when it goes out of business, here is thier response:

 

The copyrights may be transferred to another entity or person.

 

 

Upon request, the Copyright Office staff will search its

records at the statutory rate of $75 for each hour or fraction of

an hour consumed. Based on the information you furnish, we will

provide an estimate of the total search fee. If you decide to

have the Office staff conduct the search, you should send the

estimated amount with your request. The Office will then proceed

with the search and send you a typewritten report or, if you

prefer, an oral report by telephone. If you request an oral

report, please provide a telephone number where you can be

reached during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Eastern

time).

 

Your request, and any other correspondence, should be

addressed to :

 

Reference and Bibliography Section, LM-451

Copyright Office

Library of Congress

Washington, D.C. 20559

(202) 707-6850