Can I photocopy pages from Rudyard Kipling Just so stories to distribute to attendees at a private function?
I’m pretty sure you’ll be okay! To put it simply … in most of the world copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 50 years, or for works created after 1974, plus 70 years. As Rudyard Kipling died in January 1936, you’d just about be legal even if the copyright lasted a full 70 years after his death … but as his work was created pre-1970’s you should have no problems at all. Photocopying the pages of a book, is, in one sense, making use of someone else’s layout skills – but I doubt the publishers would be overly bothered if you’re not making money from the copies. If you want total peace of mind, then type out your own copy of the work and photocopy that.
