When a film is colorized it is regarded as a new work, and is copyrighted that way. If a film is up for renewal, then all the studio needs to do is to renew it. Regarding (was it Carl Pryluck?) the idea that one can copyright a work that is in the public domain: this is not true. Once a work enters the public domain, the copyright laws mandates that it stays there. It is not possible to copyright a work in the public domain. So what many companies do in order to obtain a copyright on a public domain film is alter it in some way. For instance, INTOLERANCE entered the public domain last year. But the recently "restored" version is able to qualify as a new work, since the copyright falls on the reconstruction. (Sometimes videocassettes specify these; I've seen a tape where there were several different copyrights noted, including packaging.) It's a tricky business, and I don't claim to be an expert (even lawyers often have problems with these things on occasion). Bob Kosovsky Graduate Center -- Ph.D. Program in Music(student)/ City University of New York New York Public Library -- Music Division bitnet: [log in to unmask] internet: [log in to unmask] Disclaimer: My opinions do not necessarily represent those of my institutions.