Significant misunderstandings have arisen around this topic, prompting me to provide a clearer explanation. In the following sections, I will outline the specific laws and regulations that dictate the public domain status of Aleister Crowley’s works, focusing on both the United States and the United Kingdom.
These legal frameworks are crucial for understanding how Crowley’s writings are treated in terms of copyright and intellectual property, especially considering his notable contributions to literature and occult philosophy. I will delve into the particulars of copyright duration, renewal processes, and the conditions under which works may enter the public domain, ensuring a comprehensive overview of this important subject.
U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, United States Code)
§ 302: Duration of copyright: Works created on or after January 1, 1978
“Copyright in a work created on or after January 1, 1978 subsists from its creation and, except as provided in the following subsections, endures for a term consisting of the life of the author and 70 years after the author’s death.”
This does not apply to Crowley, since most of his work was created before 1978.
§ 304: Duration of copyright: Subsisting copyrights
(a) “In the case of any copyright… secured before January 1, 1978, the copyright shall endure for 28 years from the date it was originally secured. During the last (1) year thereof, the copyright is eligible for renewal for an additional 67 years (now extended to 95 years total due to later amendments).”
So:
- Works published before 1929 with no renewal are public domain.
- Works published 1929–1963 must have had their copyrights renewed to stay protected.
- If not renewed, they are public domain.
Example Application:
- Liber AL (1904) → Public domain (no renewal needed, pre-1929).
- Book of Lies (1913) → Public domain (pre-1929).
- Magick Without Tears (1954) → Still under copyright (published after 1929 and renewed).
U.S. Copyright Term Extension Act (CTEA, 1998)
Also known as the Mickey Mouse Protection Act.
“Extends copyright terms by 20 years:
- From life + 50 years to life + 70 years
- For corporate works, from 75 years to 95 years”
This is why The Confessions of Aleister Crowley (published posthumously in 1969) is still under copyright until at least 2039–2045, depending on renewal status.
UK Copyright Law: Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
Section 12: Duration of copyright in literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works
“The copyright in a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work expires at the end of the period of 70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the author dies.”
Aleister Crowley died in 1947, so:
All of his works are public domain in the UK as of January 1, 2018.
Additional Resources:
- U.S. Copyright Office Circular 15A: https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ15a.pdf
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database: https://exhibits.stanford.edu/copyrightrenewals
- UK Government IP Office: https://www.gov.uk/copyright
