Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Maryland

Copyright Question

I have read your questions. The simple answer to your question is that it does depend on the new document. In this case if this is considered to be a new tangible expression in a medium there may be an issue. However, in most cases even if there were a copyright on the revised work, the doctrine of fair use would come into play.

Under the doctrine of fair use you can exerpt sections of a work either for education or some related common cause or public policy use without violating the copyright. Howevr usually when you are exerpting a large amount and this is going to be used in a commercial work then there would have to be permission from the copyright holder to use the material.

In general, this is a very unsettled area of the law since the inception of the internet and it has only been two years which is not enough time for the courts to make clear dividing lines regarding these areas and how they "play out" in this context.

I don't know what you mean by translations so I cannot comment on what you want to know.

does not sound right

There is no such thing as an "electronic copyright". This text is copyrighted or it is not. If it is truly public domain, the mere putting it via scan on the net - or anywhere else does not give it any protection. Beware. There are people who claim that certain religious materials (notably Scientology) is public domain. They are being sued in almost all cases by the church. Bottom line, be careful of what you post.