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Q: Gustav Dore' Engavings - Public Domain? ( Answered 5 out of 5 stars,   1 Comment )
Question  
Subject: Gustav Dore' Engavings - Public Domain?
Category: Arts and Entertainment > Visual Arts
Asked by: redneckmystic-ga
List Price: $5.00
Posted: 23 Jul 2004 11:52 PDT
Expires: 22 Aug 2004 11:52 PDT
Question ID: 378224
Hi,  Can anyone tell me whether or not reproductions of the Gustav
Dore' engravings are in the public domain? His original illustrations
were published in 1866. The Dover Classics Illustration Series has
been publishing various collections of Dore's work for years, and they
are giving us permission to use the prints, however they are not
indemnifying us.
Thanks
Answer  
Subject: Re: Gustav Dore' Engavings - Public Domain?
Answered By: hummer-ga on 24 Jul 2004 12:20 PDT
Rated:5 out of 5 stars
 
Hi redneckmystic,

Gustave Doré's wonderful illustrations are all in the public domain
and therefore noone (including Dover) can copyright them - only
*original* (or modified) material (whether illustrations or text) are
protected under the copyright law.

Is the work protected?
"Copyright does not protect, this Policy does not apply to, and anyone
may freely use*:
* Works that lack originality
    o logical, comprehensive compilations (like the phone book)
    o unoriginal reprints of public domain works
* Works in the public domain
* Freeware (not shareware, but really, expressly, available free of
restrictions-ware -- this may be protected by law, but the author has
chosen to make it available without any restrictions)
* US Government works
* Facts
* Ideas, processes, methods, and systems described in copyrighted works"
http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/intellectualproperty/copypol2.htm#first

Public Domain Works That are Modified:
"Modifications to a public domain work may be protected by copyright
and cannot be used without permission. A famous example used in many
copyright classes is of the artist who paints an elaborate hat and
mustache on the Mona Lisa. Even though anyone is free to copy the Mona
Lisa image, the modified image (with mustache and hat) is protected
under the artist 's copyright."
Compilations:
"Often an author creates a work by selecting various public domain
components and grouping them together. If the selection, coordination
and arrangement of the material is unique it will be protected as a
copyrightable compilation.
EXAMPLE: The owners of the book Bartlett's Familiar Quotations
selected and arranged famous quotes. Anyone may copy a few quotes from
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, but no one may copy the arrangement
and selection of all the quotes."
http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/chapter8/8-b.html

GUSTAVE DORÉ: His Life and Work:
written by Mr Dan Malan, author of: 'Gustave Doré - Adrift on Dreams of Splendor':
"Vincent van Gogh referred to Doré as an "Artist of the People"
because Doré took his art directed to the masses thru his literary
folios. Now all of Doré's art is in the public domain and it is
reprinted all over the world. Doré's sets of engravings are etched
into the memory of society's collective subconscious. That is his true
legacy."
http://www.antiquemapsandprints.com/gustave-dore.htm

The Doré Bible Gallery:
"This website contains all the illustrations related to the New
Testament (about 80 images) and a few from the Old Testament (esp. the
prophetic books)."
"Since these illustrations are well over 100 years old, they are in
the "public domain" and are thus copyright free. But since I took the
trouble to have them scanned and put on the web, I would appreciate
receiving appropriate credit and acknowledgements."
http://myweb.lmu.edu/fjust/Dore.htm

Doré Bible plates:
http://groups.msn.com/GustavDore/

I hope this helps. If you have any questions, or if I misunderstood
your question, please post a clarification request before
closing/rating my answer and I'll be happy to reply.

Thank you,
hummer

Google Search Terms Used:
copyright illustrations "public domain"
Dover Doré "public domain"
Dover reprints Doré. "public domain"
dore illustrations "public domain"

I also was able to draw on my own research which I've done on previous questions.
redneckmystic-ga rated this answer:5 out of 5 stars and gave an additional tip of: $1.00
as always, great work folks!

Comments  
Subject: Re: Gustav Dore' Engavings - Public Domain?
From: hummer-ga on 25 Jul 2004 15:35 PDT
 
Thank you, redneckmystic, for the nice note, rating, and tip - I'm
glad I was able to help.  Sincerely, hummer

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