Book Idea - Your Thoughts?
 

So...I have a family member that worked for NASA for many years in mission control and I have in my possession 100s of letters that were written to NASA when the first shuttle disaster occurred.

These letters range from very touching letters from kids, to letters from world leaders, to nut jobs.

I find the letters very interesting/emotional to read and thought they could be interesting to others.

I am no writer by any means but what do you think the interest would be in a book that would showcase these letters?

Re: Book Idea - Your Thoughts?
 

It sounds interesting, but it also sounds like a legal minefield. Normally the recipient of a letter owns the physical letter but the author still retains copyrights to the content. There are fair use copyright exceptions for scholarly works, but it depends on several factors. There may also be issues about whether your relative is in legal possession of the letters.

Re: Book Idea - Your Thoughts?
 

Would that hold true if the names were omitted?

Re: Book Idea - Your Thoughts?
 

Copyright is entirely separate from attribution. It may make a difference for violation privacy issues, but not copyright.

Re: Book Idea - Your Thoughts?
 

I appreciate your insight. Is there a way I can get started to have someone look into all of the leagal aspects of this? So far all I can find is resources for people who already have a book to publish...as I say I am no writer but I would like to start talking to someone about this. I don't even care about the money aspect...I grew up in a "NASA" family and I just want to share these beautiful letters with the rest of the world...I am not trying to profit from it.

Re: Book Idea - Your Thoughts?
 

From Guide Through the Legal Jungle Blog:

A personal letter is subject to copyright protection – regardless of whether the letter is published or unpublished. In most cases, the writer of the letter is the copyright owner of the letter. As the recipient of the letter, you exercise control over the tangible copy which you may keep, sell, or discard. However, you do not have the right to reproduce, publish, or exercise any of the copyright owner’s other exclusive rights in the letter.

There have been lawsuits over the unauthorized use of personal letters. For example, an unauthorized biog*raphy of J.D. Salinger was enjoined after the author included ex*tensive verbatim passages of Salinger’s unpublished letters without Salinger’s permission.

Also, if the letters include information that qualifies as “private”, you must also consider privacy issues in addition to copyright law issues before doing anything with the letters.

There may be some argument as to whether or not they qualify as "personal" letters, though. But it seems like the rights would still rest with the originator.

Re: Book Idea - Your Thoughts?
 

There's not only the question of copyright, but also of your (likely) illegal possession of the letters.

Beyond that, though, you're 20 years too late.

Re: Book Idea - Your Thoughts?
 

What about all these "Children's Letters to God" books that are out there? Aren't these just grabbed from the dead letter office at the post office?

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/4079/lettertogod01.jpg

Re: Book Idea - Your Thoughts?
 

That's kind of what I meant when I said there may be an argument that the letters aren't "personal." If someone sends a letter to a public agency rather than an individual, is there a reasonable expectation of privacy? (Maybe... I don't know.) Or if the office of a public figure sends a letter expressing condolences, is that really something that can be kept private?

But yeah, it does seem like a tricky issue.

Re: Book Idea - Your Thoughts?
 

I'm going to have to research this more. I know it's long past...but even I still found them interesting to read. There are lots of kids drawings as well. Of course I grew up with the astronauts and their kids so the appeal may be partial on my part.