Commons:Copyright rules by territory/Czechoslovakia

This page provides an overview of copyright rules of Czechoslovakia relevant to uploading works into Wikimedia Commons. Note that any work originating in Czechoslovakia must be in the public domain, or available under a free license, in both the country of origin and the United States before it can be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons. If there is any doubt about the copyright status of a work from Czechoslovakia, refer to the relevant laws for clarification.

Background

Czechoslovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe that existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until its peaceful dissolution into the Czech Republic and Slovakia on 1 January 1993.

Copyright rules were defined in the Act No. 35 of March 25, 1965 Concerning Literary, Scientific and Artistic Works (The Copyright Act), as modified and amended by the Act of March 28, 1990, No. 89 Coll. and by the Act of November 1, 1991 No. 468 Coll.[1]

A work must be free in the successor state for it to be uploaded into Wikimedia commons. Act No. 35 was amended in the Czech Republic by the Act of December 8, 1993 No. 318 Coll. and by the Act of September 27, 1995, No. 237 Coll. In the Slovak Republic Act No. 35 was replaced by Act No.383 of 5 December 1997. Both countries have since enacted new copyright laws.

Copyright tags

Shortcut

See also: Commons:Copyright tags

  • {{PD-Czechoslovakia-old}} Works that come into the public domain fifty years after the death of the author, except published photographs which come into the public domain ten years after the death of the author.
  • {{PD-Czechoslovakia-anon}} works first published without a claim of authorship in Czechoslovakia come into the public domain fifty years after publication

Currency

See also: Commons:Currency

  OK. There is a legal succession of "Česká národní banka" (ČNB) for all precursor institutes ("Státní banka československá" (SBCS), "Národní banka Československá" until 1919). Therefore, {{Money-CZ}} can be applied for Czechoslovakian currency of former times and money of the first Slovakian Republic too.

Freedom of panorama

The Czechoslovak copyright law (Act No. 35 of March 25, 1965 Concerning Literary, Scientific and Artistic Works) provided an adequate freedom of panorama at Section 15(2)(f): The author’s permission for the use of a work is not required and remuneration need not be paid by a person who...f) imitates a work of art, displayed in public premises, in another field of art, photographs of a thus displayed work of art may be reproduced and distributed also without the author’s permission.

The successor states Czech Republic and Slovakia also provide freedom of panorama; see Commons:Copyright rules by territory/Czech Republic#Freedom of panorama and Commons:Copyright rules by territory/Slovakia#Freedom of panorama for information.

Stamps

See also: Commons:Stamps

  Postage stamps of Czechoslovakia (published in 1918-1939 and in 1945-1992) are copyrighted 70 years after the author's death by both authors: an engraver and a graphic artist. (see overview of artists) Stamps issued before 1922 are PD with exception of portrait of TGM and Dove. Between 1934-1939 are PD stamps engraved by Bohumil Heinz with some exceptions (non PD graphic artist).

See also

Citations

Caution: The above description may be inaccurate, incomplete and/or out of date, so must be treated with caution. Before you upload a file to Wikimedia Commons you should ensure it may be used freely. See also: Commons:General disclaimer