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I have discovered another PUBLIC DOMAIN Philip K. Dick story.

Progeny, which was originally published in the November 1954 issue of If: Worlds Of Science Fiction (volume 4, number 3), was falsely renewed. The false renewal was states that Progeny was published in the October 1955 issue of If: Worlds Of Science Fiction (volume 5, number 6). This is false. The story was not in that issue.

In order for a copyright to be renewed United States law at the time required that a copyrighted work be renewed within the 28th year following the original publication. This did not happen. The renewal form, RE190631, was dated November 22, 1983. This puts the true first publication of Progeny in If: Worlds Of Science Fiction 29 years prior to renewal’s application. Therefore the copyright protection on Progeny was not properly renewed and the story is PUBLIC DOMAIN.

Here’s the proof:

1. The copyright and table of contents page for Worlds Of If, November 1954 (volume 4, number 3) is HERE, and it clearly shows Progeny as beginning on page 64.
2. The copyright and table of contents page for Worlds Of If, October 1955 (volume 5, number 6) is HERE, notice the complete absence of any Philip K. Dick story in that issue.
3. HERE is a scan of the copyright renewal form, with the falsified entry for Progeny.
4. Neither magazine title, If or If: Worlds Of Science Fiction for (volume 4, number 3), were ever renewed so any blanket copyright protection for that issue as a whole is also out.

Here’s the evidence:

RE190631 Page 1 (front):

RE190631 Page 1 (back):

RE190631 Page 2 (front):

RE190631 Page 2 (back) this is the page with Progeny:

RE190631 Page 3 (front):

RE190631 Page 3 (back):

Posted by Jesse Willis