[blindLaw] Copyright law involving posthumous publication by another

[Thomas Dukeman]

Hello felloe legal beagles!

If I understand basic copyright law so far, once one has acquired the copyright to something, it is retained for the life of the owner plus 70 years. I am referring to US Law and US authors by the way. In 1985, Frank Herbert had died after publishing 6 books in his famous Dune franchise and planned at least for 2 more additional entries of which he left extensive notes behind. His son ended up publishing them instead though, as was the case with JRR Tolkien and his son involving the publication of the Silmarillion. Now I also know that works for hire exist too but those are created at the direction of another and as far as I am aware, no one told them to publish these books on their father’s behalf. Anyone know how these publications got categorized?

Tom

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