Sherlock Holmes Public Domain Decision Stands

As I have previously discussed, the character of Sherlock Holmes was held to be public domain by the 7th circuit earlier this year. Sherlock Holmes author Arthur Conan Doyle’s estate appealed the decision.  On Monday, the Supreme Court of the United States decided to not hear the estate’s appeal, and ended the dispute over whether author Leslie Klinger had to pay and obtain a license from the estate to publish his Sherlock Holmes book.

See, Case of Sherlock Holmes Copyright Closes After US Supreme Court Refuses Appeal, The Guardian, Nov. 3, 2014.