"Ron Wanttaja" wrote in message
...
On 14 Apr 2007 09:16:57 -0700, "Lou" wrote:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't a copywrite last for
a certain amount of time then it has to be renewed? If not
renewed in time, it becomes public domain.

Yes, but the period is at least 75 years past the death of the author.

The authors certainly can release them to public domain well before that.
I
wrote a commercial flight simulator game about 25 years back, and upon a
polite
query about five years ago, provided just such a written release. When
another
guy asked for a PDF file of the manual, I put the release inside the front
cover:

http://www.wanttaja.com/IFR.pdf

It doesn't make any difference for a VIC-20 flight simulator, but I'm not
sure
whether one can shed legal liability for an aircraft design by making it
public
domain. However, IIRC, the canard folks market a CD-ROM with complete
Long-EZ
plans on it, and I suspect that if Rutan was worried, he could easily stop
them.

Ron Wanttaja

I don't recall where, but I seem to recall that someone sued Burt Rutan
following an accident in either a VariEze or LongEze. According to the
story, Rutan won the case but was sufficiently annoyed that he discontinued
any association with plans sales.

OTOH, the issue of "Pirate Plans" seems to have gained a lot of amateur
advocacy based on the controversy over [millions of] copies of recorded
music. I am not sure how much of that is applicable to aircraft plans; but
I do have a practical, rather than legal, pair of suggestions:
1) If the plans are no longer available from either the original source,
or a successor, you really should thing about whether the project makes
sense. For example; if the plans were withdrawn because the designer had
doubts regarding the continued availability of a critical component, such as
a preferred engine; then perhaps you should share his doubts. You will be
stepping into the design, support and test pilot roles; after the original
designer gave up.
2) If the plans are still available and supported; then buy them! If you
place any value on your time, then even marginal support will more than pay
you back.

Peter
Just my $0.02