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Ancient Books Go Online

Posted by timothy on from the on-the-internet-no-one-knows-you're-a-clay-tablet dept.

jd writes "The BBC is reporting that the United Nations' World Digital Library has gone online with an initial offering of 1,200 ancient manuscripts, parchments and documents. To no great surprise, Europe comes in first with 380 items. South America comes in second with 320, with a very distant third place being given to the Middle East at a paltry 157 texts. This is only the initial round, so the leader board can be expected to change. There are, for example, a lot of Sumerian and Babylonian tablets, many of which are already online elsewhere. Astonishingly, the collection is covered by numerous copyright laws, according to the legal page. Use of material from a given country is subject to whatever restrictions that country places, in addition to any local and international copyright laws. With some of the contributions being over 8,000 years old, this has to be the longest copyright extension ever offered. There is nothing on whether the original artists get royalties, however."

6 of 198 comments (clear)

  1. Go by Evelas · · Score: 2, Funny

    Did anyone else see "Ancient Books Go..." and think they'd discovered some ancient Go books?

  2. Sometime in the distant future... by Anachragnome · · Score: 4, Funny

    Gravestone uncovered by excavations for the new Pan-Continental Bicycle Suspension Bridge Project...

    "Here Lies Alfred E. Neuman
    Mad as Hell...
    Born 1954, Died 2337
    Copyright, 1954"

  3. Re:Sounds about right by jd · · Score: 4, Funny

    Most of the publishers' nations are also extinct. Lawyers, though, I can't vouch for. Demons have very long lifespans.

    --
    It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
  4. Excellent! by krou · · Score: 4, Funny

    I hear Gozer was very big in Sumeria. Hopefully there's something in these texts to suggest what he's doing in my icebox.

    --
    'If Christ had tweeted the sermon on the mount, it might have lasted until nightfall.' - John Perry Barlow
  5. Re:Copyright by johannesg · · Score: 3, Funny

    With some of the contributions being over 8,000 years old, this has to be the longest copyright extension ever offered.

    Is anyone surprised at this? Seriously, does copyright ever end these days?

    Of course not. How will the poor authors ever be stimulated to write something ever again if they cannot reap the rewards of their hard labour? Really, won't someone think of the mummy's?

    Incidentally, I'm wondering if there is anyone on the planet who is not directly descended from the people who wrote this 8000 years ago. I think I'd like to claim my share of the incoming generated by this now please!

  6. Re:Copyright by Elky+Elk · · Score: 4, Funny

    Exactly. The low number of works produced by dead people is a direct consequence of poorer copyright protections compared to the living.