The Durationator Copyright Portal:  A resource sent for copyright information.  Tips we've learned over the years.  Basics about copyright term in the U.S. A community forum.  Spreadsheets with formulas.  We add information all the time, as our community grows, as we run more searches for libraries, archives and museums.  Don't see information that applies to your project, or just want to send us a ticket to inquire where to being or do a specific search?  You can do that in the portal too! 

 

Tickets:  This is how we communicate with you.  You submit a ticket.  We answer questions.  We run a Durationator Report.  We prepare a memo.  You can watch the progress of your ticket, and ask follow-up questions.  We return the results by email.

 

Projects: This is what we call a new request.  You are starting a project, whether that is determining the copyright status of one book, or 1000s film titles.  We assess the copyright information required with a particular dataset.  One book, for instance, may have a number underlying copyrights (a novel based on a short story), or separate copyrights (an introduction, photographs, and maps by separate authors).  

 

Durationator Reports, Spreadsheets and Memos: Over the years, we have recognized that different data sets require different outputs.  Sometimes every individual work has to be run through the Durationator Copyright system.  Other times, we are able to create a spreadsheet, which allows for much faster data processing.  Finally, we find that sometimes a memo with directions on how to approach the copyright issues is the most straightforward communication of the materials.  For instance, we were reviewing the copyright status of photographs for a Chinese republication of an American scholar's book.  The law in China regarding photographs is fairly straightforward.  We could give him a "Cheat Sheet" to apply the basic rule, rather than needed to run each photograph and its data through the Durationator system.  Much faster for everyone.  Finally, we have requests for memos (for attorneys to verify and advise upon) regarding the status of a set of works, say, for example, for publishing.

 

Community Membership: Community searches turn into helpful tips and tricks, spreadsheets and general knowledge for the community.  If Library X searches for periodicals from Austria in the 1940s, we release information about that search, including and Cheat Sheets or Spreadsheets to assist others in the same search.  The more searches we do, the more the resource grows.   Libraries can opt into sharing "Specific Search Results" which would highlight their work, and any specific lessons or information learned from that search.  For instance, one library runs a search for Author X.  We learn a great deal about Author X.  The information about Author X is released by the library, and now included as a "Specific Search Result."  Another library comes along looking for information about Author X.  They can search and find the "Specific Search Result," or we can point them to the results when they request a ticket for Author X.

 

Private Membership.  Private membership is just that.  Private.  We do not share your results.  We do not add them to the Community Resources.  We run the search, and send you the results.