Question About Obtaining Adaptation Rights...

As an aspiring composer, I am wondering if anyone could tell me how to conduct a search to see whether or not a literary work is in the public domain?

Any information would be much appreciated.

Updated On: 7/13/08 at 04:38 PM

As allofmylife points out, there are all sorts of variations and premutations, but in general, the older, the better.

Remember that some plays and books may be public domain now--but the translation in your hand may not be.

---

Title 17, Chapter 3 of the U.S. Code, (Duration of Copyright) details the current law.
It'd not particularly difficult "legalese":

The biggest problem if a work is not in the public domain is frequently receiving permission from the individual holding the rights. Sometimes the up-front money
is prohibitive and at other times permission is not given for many reasons. It took
the Steppenwolfe Theater Company a long, long time to convince Steinbeck's widow that "The Grapes of Wrath" should be adapted and that group had a lot of money and clout.

It's a shame. There are so many wonderful works crying out for theatrical adaptations but they'll never see the light of day. But here is the law:

www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/usc_sup_01_17_10_3.html