Q: Copyright and Public Domain
Hello,
I would like to use personal letters, purchased by me at an auction, in a book. People who wrote these letters passed away and 70 years have lapsed after their death. Many of the letters were written in the late 1800s. Are these letters in Public Domain? Am I allowed to use them in my book?
Thank you,
Elena
A:
You should always consult an attorney and this is not legal advice nor forms any attorney client relationship
IF you own the original manuscripts of a work, and the copyright period has expired and nobody else can make a claim to it, most likely you are the owner of it and can do what you want.
Best luck!
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