Orphan Works Help

["rthorm" <rthorm@cornellbox.com>]

There is a website that is collecting stories and information about
how people have been harmed by the copyright extensions and works
which have become "orphaned" rather than falling into public domain
(http://notabug.com/kahle/).  We've got an excellent case study for
them with DQ, and I'd like to collect as much information as I can in
order to assemble a nice complete package for them.

(N.B.  I see that David McCorkhill has posted SPI's Universe there
already (http://notabug.com/kahle/128).  In parallel with that, I
think that we can provide some good information for the DQ side of the
SPI saga, and I think the DQ community is larger and has made more
inquiries and attempts at acquiring the rights to the game.)

I know a couple of you have contacted various rights-holders who may
(or may not) have had the rights to DQ.  Information about this will
be especially useful.  (I don't need copies of it right now, but the
legal team might eventually want a copy if they decide to use our
information as part of this.)

Also, if anyone is in current or recent contact with any of the old
SPI DragonQuest team (Gerry/Chris Klug especially, but any of the
other authors), I'd like to get in touch with them to get their take
on the case and see if they would be willing to provide some
additional information or author's perspective.

  --Rodger Thorm

Here's the background for this, which I picked up from the Copyfight
website:
(http://www.corante.com/copyfight/archives/004352.html)

Lessig Legal Team Seeks Copyright Stories for Brewster Kahle v. John
Ashcroft lawsuit 

Lawrence Lessig and his legal team are asking for your help. Kahle v.
Ashcroft is a lawsuit that challenges changes to U.S. copyright law
that have created a large class of "orphan works" -- creative works
which are out of print and no longer commercially available, but which
are still regulated by copyright.

The Kahle team is collecting examples of people being burdened by
these copyright-related barriers to the use of orphan works. Visit the
Kahle Submission Site and tell us your story.