In the 19.10.10 MMD Paul Bellamy mentions the late H.A.V. Bulleid's
books as an example where copyright problems prevent the republication
of books.  He says that, because Bulleid is no loner alive and the
publisher holding the copyright is no longer in business, Bulleid's
work can't be republished.

I'm no lawyer, but that doesn't sound right to me.  As creator of
a work, Bulleid should be the copyright holder unless he assigned the
copyright to the publisher or someone else, which doesn't seem likely.

Assuming Bulleid did not assign his rights away, then on his death,
his rights would be a part of his estate, to be disposed of according
to his will or applicable law, if Bulleid died intestate, which seems
unlikely.

Expert legal advice should be sought before giving up hope of republication
of works still under copyright, when the author or creator is deceased,
whether or not the publisher is still in business.

Matthew Caulfield
Irondequoit, New York