Hi, Allegra. As always it may be easier to chat as I think you're discussing a few different things in here, and it's not exactly clear to me what you're being asked to do. I read this as a patron wants the Library to provide a copy of a dissertation? Interlibrary loan can do so under 17 USC 108(e) if the other conditions are met about non-commercial availability, etc. Otherwise, if ILL does not wish to rely on (or for some reason can't rely on) 17 USC 108(e), your library could still make a fair use decision about whether to provide a copy. (Note that we do not, just FYI.) And if both of the above are a "no," then you indicate to the patron that you don't know who holds copyright (there are no automatic rules for anything; the person could have assigned it in a number of ways), and if you do have contact info for heirs, you could decide to pass that along or not. I'm not sure what the emeritus project is you're referring to, but my read of your e-mail is that you have a patron who wants a copy. And the above would apply to such a scenario. Best, Rachael On Fri, Feb 4, 2022 at 8:54 AM Swift, Allegra < [log in to unmask]> wrote: > Who holds copyright to a dissertation where the author dies if they > haven’t included copyright in their will? > https://copyrightalliance.org/what-happens-to-your-copyrights-after-you-die/ > . Do heirs automatically receive copyright if not, who would you approach > for access? What are al y’all doing with the emeriti project – I realize > most of the copyright in this case would be held by the publisher… > > > > A patron, not UC but a family member, found the UCSD dissertation online > having been scanned as part of the Google Books project but only the record > is accessible, not the pdf. > > A few things I’ll ask, very few details in the initial query: > > 1. What is the date of the dissertation? > 2. When did the author die (if they did die)? > 3. What else? (that’s for you all) > > > > Thanks! > > Allegra > > > > *Allegra Swift | Scholarly Communications Librarian * > > UC San Diego Library | [log in to unmask] > > *https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2160-6960 > <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/orcid.org/0000-0003-2160-6960__;!!Mih3wA!T4VGrOddoXVXKPPma1Jsrb8K48j5_4YLcieiGQd8hdzHjhbBDT0Tuwc0YsL7fljm$>* > > Pronouns: she, her, hers / *Why do pronouns matter > <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.mypronouns.org/what-and-why/__;!!Mih3wA!T4VGrOddoXVXKPPma1Jsrb8K48j5_4YLcieiGQd8hdzHjhbBDT0Tuwc0YkZ8I60b$>?* > > > > *Meet: here's my calendar link > <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/calendly.com/akswift__;!!Mih3wA!T4VGrOddoXVXKPPma1Jsrb8K48j5_4YLcieiGQd8hdzHjhbBDT0Tuwc0YmeRYxWX$>* to > make finding time easy. > > > > Info on services and resources: *lib.ucsd.edu/schol-comm > <http://lib.ucsd.edu/schol-comm>* > > Twitter: @UCSDScholCom > <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/twitter.com/ucsdscholcom__;!!Mih3wA!T4VGrOddoXVXKPPma1Jsrb8K48j5_4YLcieiGQd8hdzHjhbBDT0Tuwc0Yi8LJNUc$> > | Blog: CONDUIT <https://knit.ucsd.edu/scholcomm/> > > > > In the spirit of healing, I acknowledge and honor the *Kumeyaay > <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/native-land.ca/maps/territories/kumeyaay/__;!!Mih3wA!T4VGrOddoXVXKPPma1Jsrb8K48j5_4YLcieiGQd8hdzHjhbBDT0Tuwc0YjmQDbT0$>* and > all of the original Indigenous peoples of the land upon which UC San Diego > stands. / *Whose land are you on? > <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/native-land.ca/__;!!Mih3wA!T4VGrOddoXVXKPPma1Jsrb8K48j5_4YLcieiGQd8hdzHjhbBDT0Tuwc0Yh1o3SfC$>* > > > > > -- Rachael G. Samberg, J.D., MLIS Scholarly Communication Officer & Program Director Office of Scholarly Communication Services University of California, Berkeley Doe Library, 189 Annex Berkeley, CA 94720-6000 Pronouns: she/her *Guidance*: lib.berkeley.edu/scholarly-communication *Updates*: @UCB_ScholComm