User:Alexis Jazz/PD-US-unpublished suggestion

PD-US-unpublished templates

Regarding {{PD-US-unpublished}} and {{PD-US-unpublished-text}}, the order of the sentences is not logical in the current templates: {{PD-US-unpublished}} starts with a requirement (2003), then states the work is in the public domain (a statement), then show another requirement. (one or more of three conditions must be met) {{PD-US-unpublished-text}} starts with a requirement (2003), then gives references, followed by a statement (work is PD) finishing with another requirement (author died before 1954;). My suggestion gets partially rid of the (bulletpointed) list with a parameter, fixes the order of statements/requirements and allows {{PD-US-unpublished-text}} to be merged into {{PD-US-unpublished}}. This is what the templates currently look like:

Current {{PD-US-unpublished}}

This work was never published prior to January 1, 2003, and is currently in the public domain in the United States because it meets one of the following conditions:

• its author died before 1954;
• the death date of its author is not known, and it was created before 1904;
• it is an anonymous work, a pseudonymous work, or a work made for hire, and it was created before 1904.

The above provisions are contained in 17 U.S.C. § 303. See also this page for more information.

Current {{PD-US-unpublished-text}}

This work was never published prior to January 1, 2003, and according to the provisions of 17 U.S.C. § 303, it is currently in the public domain in the United States because its author died before 1954. See also this page for more information.

This is my suggestion:

Suggested {{PD-US-unpublished|deathyear}}

This work is currently in the public domain in the United States because it was never published prior to January 1, 2003 and its author died before 1954.

The above provisions are contained in chapter 3 of title 17 of the United States Code. See also the Hirtle chart for more information.

Suggested {{PD-US-unpublished|old}}

This work is currently in the public domain in the United States because it was never published prior to January 1, 2003, it was created before 1904 and it is at least one of the following 1) an anonymous work, 2) a pseudonymous work, 3) a work made for hire or 4) the death date of its author is not known.

The above provisions are contained in chapter 3 of title 17 of the United States Code. See also the Hirtle chart for more information.

Suggested {{PD-US-unpublished}} (without argument, for backwards compatiblity only)

This work is currently in the public domain in the United States because it was never published prior to January 1, 2003 and it meets one or both of the following conditions:

• its author died before 1954
• it was created before 1904 and it is at least one of the following 1) an anonymous work, 2) a pseudonymous work, 3) a work made for hire or 4) the death date of its author is not known.

The above provisions are contained in chapter 3 of title 17 of the United States Code. See also the Hirtle chart for more information.

Suggested {{PD-US-unpublished-text}}

This template can be deleted. {{PD-old-auto-unpublished}} will call {{PD-US-unpublished|deathyear}}.

Notes

There are no files currently calling {{PD-US-unpublished-text}} directly. It appears to be used only when called by {{PD-old-auto-unpublished}}. This means deathyear is always known when this template is used.

When {{PD-US-unpublished|deathyear}} is called with a value that means the work is copyrighted (like 1955), the template could call {{No permission}}. If the date of public domain entrance is soon, perhaps it could be automatically undeleted, but that's another matter.