manual copyright

rray · Oct 12, 2015

Can anyone here tell me if it is legal to copy old manuals. I have a couple that were left to me by my granddad. They are for a tractor and equipment he purchased in 53. I would like to make copies freely available.

dr sportster · Oct 12, 2015

A printer should be able to tell you.Copyright is usually listed on the first page of the manual.

rray · Oct 12, 2015

I have inspected the manuals myself and can find no sign of a copyright. So I thought I should ask.

rustyfarmall · Oct 12, 2015

(quoted from post at 11:08:49 10/12/15) Can anyone here tell me if it is legal to copy old manuals. I have a couple that were left to me by my granddad. They are for a tractor and equipment he purchased in 53. I would like to make copies freely available.

If it is John Deere, don't even think about it. Likewise, any other brand that is still a registered trade-mark, such as anything from IHC, can probably be copied, but those copies cannot be sold. Not legally, unless an agreement with the trade-mark holder is made.

rray · Oct 12, 2015

One is Farmall and the other is related equipment. As you pointed out reselling would require some kind of official agreement but I only intend to scan them and give them to the community. Rebuilding, restoring, and maintaining these antiques is expensive enough without having to pay for what should be free information.

dr sportster · Oct 12, 2015

Why sould it be free information ? That is the whole idea of the copyright.

rray · Oct 12, 2015

Excuse me, I thought we were talking about documentation that was not copyrighted.

Mike M · Oct 12, 2015

Most of those companies are long since gone and no one left to really enforce it. Still they might ?
But FOR SURE if it is JOHN DEERE stuff they can and do actively protect their info.

dr sportster · Oct 12, 2015

Here is a link to some copyright law . Acvcording to this you have the right to lend , or dispose of your copy but not to reproduce it .Copyrights last until 70 years after the athors death.
Untitled URL Link

rray · Oct 12, 2015

That is good reading, thanks.

JOCCO · Oct 12, 2015

Don't know about the legal side of it but if you made one for your self or a friend (at no cost) should be ok. Selling them at sales or online may get you in hot water (most likely a cease and desist letter from a lawyer) A friend took a manual to a copy place and they would not copy all of it due to this but could do a page or two.

Paul from MN · Oct 12, 2015

Interesting. According to the link, if it was published without notice of copyright between 1923 and 1963 the manual immediately went into the public domain.

rray · Oct 12, 2015

Take a look at archive.org. It will surprise you what you can find that is public domain.

farmerwithmutt · Oct 12, 2015

I wanted to have some aerial farm photos reprinted and the answer
was no. Same problem there protected

John M · Oct 12, 2015

Theres this guy on fleabay who sells copies of all kinds of manuals. I don't know if he has permission, but he sells a boatload of them. I personally don't see anything wrong with it if your just sharing them with friends.

J.Wondergem · Oct 12, 2015

Shouldn't be any problem, if it's like the one I bought off fleabay. It's blurry and can't read it anyway.

Dean · Oct 12, 2015

Bingo, DR!

Dean

Dave H (MI) · Oct 12, 2015

Well, someday if you go to the trouble to publish something expecting people AND their friends to buy copies of same...I bet you will think differently.

John M · Oct 12, 2015

Good thing I don't have to worry about that!

M-MAN · Oct 12, 2015

Most manuals weren't copyrighted until the 60's - even Deere. That is why you see legal reprints everywhere.

manual copyright

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