A question for all: It maybe legal, but is it ethical?
BlackMask.com reprints public domain editions (they don't pay
the author or surviving family for the rights to publish) of
classic noir fiction writers like Elliot Chaze, Day Keene,
Wade Miller, John McPartland, Lionel White, Charles Williams,
Charles Willeford, and Jim Thompson. It's probably legal
(Authors are often not good about doing the paperwork
required to extend copyright protection). But is it ethical?
Shouldn't the families get something? They may not be owed
anything, but wouldn't it be nice?
It was one thing when BlackMask.com was reprinting old pulp
magazines. It seemed more victimless. But this new wave of
reprints does not seem right. The authors of Black Wings Has
My Angel, My Flesh Is Sweet, and the various Gold Medal and
Lion Book originals maybe gone, but their families are still
here. Mary Chaze, Elliot's wife, is still alive. There were
several kids. I met some of them when I work at the public
library in Hattiesburg, MS. I assume Al James, Day Keene's
son is still out there. Jim Thompson has two kids: Michael
and Sharon. Bruno Fischer also has two: Adam Fischer and Nora
Ernst. John McPartland had two wives: the one he was married
to when he died and the one he forgot to divorce. I think Ida
was the name of the later and the estate heir. I think there
was also a daughter. Charles Williams has a daughter Alison.
Lionel White has a daughter, January.
And then there is Wade Miller(the writing team of Bill Miller
and Bob Wade). Bill Miller died many years ago, but isn't Bob
Wade still alive?
Publishers like Hard Case Crime and Stark House Press give us
an opportunity to say thanks to the authors of these books.
It may be too late to thank them while they were living, but
we can thank their kids, in a token way, when we buy a Hard
Case or Stark House edition. I don't think anyone is getting
rich reprinting old paperback originals. I don't think
Charles Ardai of Hard Case or Greg Shepard of Stark House is
getting rich. I doubt if BlackMask.com is getting rich. We
are dealing with principles here, and I don't understand the
principle that BlackMask.com is advocating for. I think they
are on the wrong side of this issue. I know David Moynahan of
BlackMask.com has posted on this site before I would welcome
his point of view on this issue or for him to correct any
misconceptions I have. I also welcome others for feedback on
this issue.
Thanks to all for indulging me and letting me vent.
George the Librarian
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