What is the US (and EU) copyright status of the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck?

[William12]

What is the US and EU copyright status of the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck?

 

[Silverplum]

What is the US and EU copyright status of the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck?

We generally don't do your work FOR you, and we definitely don't do anything but US law here.

Search here: http://www.copyright.gov/records/

 

[quincy]

What is the US and EU copyright status of the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck?

You need to consider, with the Rider-Waite Tarot cards, not only the copyrights that still exist but also trademark rights.

 

[FlyingRon]

http://www.sacred-texts.com/tarot/faq.htm

The original RWS cards are public domain. Note that some of the additional art provided by US Games on their version is protected by a later copyright so make sure you use the older (card face) material if you intend to copy.

The FAQ above also addresses the trademark issues.

 

[quincy]

http://www.sacred-texts.com/tarot/faq.htm

The original RWS cards are public domain. Note that some of the additional art provided by US Games on their version is protected by a later copyright so make sure you use the older (card face) material if you intend to copy.

The FAQ above also addresses the trademark issues.

If William12 wishes to use the cards, he should sit down with an IP attorney in whatever part of the world he happens to be. There is continuing debate over the copyrights, not unlike the debate that swirled for years over "Happy Birthday."

The link you provided has a good history of the cards and provides good source references but the writer himself states right at the beginning: "Since I am not a lawyer, this is presented for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as offering legal advice. If you want to publish the RWS Tarot cards you should contact a copyright lawyer for legal advice."

In other words, there are many questions that need answering before it can be said to William12 that the RWS Tarot cards are in the public domain and can be used (for whatever purpose he intends to use them).