Public Domain

[Helen Winkler <winklerh...>]

I have been trying to understand copyright laws as I am trying to determine 
if an old book I have, published in 1942  in Chicago, is or isn't public 
domain.  My understanding of the law, based on what I've read is that the 
copyright holder would have had to renew the copyright 28 years after the 
work was first copyrighted; otherwise the work would be public domain.  What 
I've read is that once in the public domain, new laws can't be applied 
retroactively.
Am I mistaken?   The author of the work died in 1972 but I'm not certain if 
he was the copyright holder or if it was held by the organization that 
published the book.
Sincerely,
Helen Winkler


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