= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = maps-l maps-l maps-l = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Subject: Nazi stamped maps Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 From: [log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask] I have done some investigating of copyright issues relating to maps issued under the Third Reich. From what I can gather, most of these maps are theoretically copyrighted. The maps issued by the German government were and are copyrighted (unlike U.S. government publications). The present German government, as the successor to the Reich, holds the copyright. Under the Nazi regime, school atlases and a variety of other publications that one might at first sight regard as government publications were issued by private corporations (many of which are still in business). Most of the demographic maps published by the Nazis were produced by quasi-independent organizations called "Publikationstellen." I don't know where there copyright resides with these, although I suspect that they are in some way copyrighted. It may be that the copyright is held in this case by the creators of the maps, as is frequently the case under German copyright law. All of the above has not deterred reputable publishers in the U.S. and Britain from reproducing these maps without gaining permission. In one case where I tried to get permission to reproduce a map from a German school atlas, I received no response. I rather suspect that neither government agencies nor commercial publishers particularly want to have publicized their association with these tainted materials. Thus, it appears that they are not likely to grant permission to reproduce these maps when asked, but will take no action against the people who do so. This situation (if I understand it correctly) presents a real moral dilemma for those who want to reproduce these materials for either scholarly or commercial purposes. Theoretically you have to ask for permission, and you are unlikely to get it, but you won't be punished if you do it. It is something like a pedestrian crossing against a red light in New York City. I would appreciate it if anybody can correct or amplify what I have to say on this subject. David Allen La Mesa, CA