Thanks (to Mike M.) for the reply. When I said "case," I didn't mean to imply a legal case, just an example.

I'm still confused though. If "that the copyright was renewed in 1937 has no bearing on the matter," then why did someone renew the copyright in 1937? If renewing copyright doesn't extend copyright protection, then what DOES it do?

I've read through three Nolo Press books on rights issues, and it seems the more I read about it, the more confused I get.

Even George Harrison, a lifelong successful big-league professional who one might think had the best legal advisors money can buy, came to grief over copyright issues.

Jon Corelis
Sappho: Ode to Aphrodite: a musical setting