Legal Question in Administrative Law in South Carolina
Copyright Infringement
Ineed to know the legal ramifications of copyright infringement. I wrote a sequel to Gone With The Wind and I want to self-publish since the Margaret Mitchell estate attorneys will not give me permission to publish my work. I can't seem to find out if the names of the characters are trademarked, but the book was first published in 1932. Does a copyright ever expire naturally, even if the heirs continue to apply for copyrights? Perhaps you could direct me to a reputable attorney near me who specializes in copyright, trademarks, etc. I hate picking one out of the yellow pages! Thank you for your help. This is very important to me. I thought if I published it myself I could withstand the legal battle I might face if at least they didn't take posession of my manuscript. I really need to know what could happen. I live in Texas. The attorneys for the MM Trust are in South Carolina. Thank you so much for your consideration and assistance.
Kate Pinotti
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Copyright Infringement
Although someone in this category might be able to help you, I would suggest that you ask this question in the Intellectual Property section of this site. This isn't really an administrative law issue. You do raise some interesting questions, though.
I hope that you find someone who can help you. I also wish you well with your book.