Post #3353794

2026-06-19 12:50 UTC

#fedihelp hey Fedi! I am trying to get in touch with the owners to the rights of Joseph Weizenbaum;s "Computer Power and Human Reason". The Weizenbaum Institute (a research institute, not a family foundation) does not seem too responsive. Last time (1987) the rights were with Penguin in the UK. These days they may be still with them or possibly with Prof. Weizenbaum's heirs. Anyone know someone who knows someone who knows someone? Thank you!

Replies (2)

@generalespecifico@mastodon.uno 2026-06-21 14:42

@DataKnightmare@mastodon.xyz Hmm… I’ve been following this issue for a while now on the podcast, and I was thinking of a ‘media tactic’ to achieve the goal of getting published or ‘making our voices heard’ – like getting a book-loving radio programme involved, even if only to highlight the ‘popular’ desire of a desperate group of people trying to understand the current IT phenomenon by going back to its origins. I know, it might be a bit over the top and ‘underhand’... (https://www.raiplaysound.it/programmi/fahrenheit)

Open ##3366563
@Weizenbaum_Institut@social.bund.de 2026-07-06 07:33

@DataKnightmare@mastodon.xyz We have also pursued this question, but so far without a satisfactory answer. We have not been able to establish who holds the rights required to authorize a new publication, whether through the publishers or Weizenbaum’s heirs. Apologies!

Open ##3622894