It’s Fair Use, My Dear Watson

There’s been no shortage of Sherlock Holmes spin-offs in the past few years, and with the Supreme Court’s decision not  to hear a case from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s estate, contemporary re-imaginings of the detective savant will continue to thrive. The Guardian reports that by refusing to consider an appeal of a seventh-circuit court decision naming all but the last ten Holmes books public domain, the high court has sent a clear message that licensing fees demanded by the estate aren’t kosher for works whose copyright has expired. Expect to see new stories set at 221B Baker Street from Pegasus Books—and others—soon.