[southerntofu]

> Copyright renewal is a real thing.

Not in most jurisdictions, no. What's your country where copyright renewal is still a thing? (no judgement here, despite all my hatred for copyright i'd rather have copyright renewal than copyright until 50y after death of all editors/compositors/authors as we have in Europe)

[bscphil]

The United States: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_renewal_in_the_Unite...

Moreover, under United States law, new editions of a preexisting work are considered "derivative works" and in these cases "the editorial revisions, annotations, elaborations, or other modifications represent, as a whole, an original work." [1]

SIGNIFICANTLY, this U.S. government source explicitly mentions the following as cases of derivative works which allow for a new copyright:

* A new version of an existing computer program

* A revision of a website

The new copyright on the derivative work "covers only the additions, changes, or other new material appearing for the first time in the work."

In other words, by creating a derivative work via updating an existing computer program or modifying a website, you absolutely gain a new copyright on any new material and you absolutely can and should update the copyright date under U.S. law.

People urging the contrary, at least insofar as they are talking about the United States or governments with similar copyright regimes are dead wrong, and jcranmer and garmaine are right and unfairly downvoted.

[1] https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ14.pdf

[southerntofu]

> The United States: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_renewal_in_the_Unite...

Thanks, i was not aware that was still a thing!

[garmaine]

Pretty much all jurisdictions. Even in Europe the copyright is extended if you alter a work.

[southerntofu]

The original copyright is not extended, no, unless i have some serious legal misunderstandings. For example, translations for a book will have a newer copyright, but the original text's copyright will not be extended by receiving a new translation.

[bscphil]

It would be slightly more accurate to say that you receive a new copyright in any new material in the work, not that your copyright is extended on the old material. Under U.S. law at least, a significant alteration of a work results in a derivative work under law, and you are correct to say that it is entirely reasonable to place an updated copyright date on that work.