New edition of “The Grapes of Wrath” affected by a publication ban: Who owns the story?

Instead of justifying never republishing the book, the owners of ID Verlag want it to remain out of print. Civil copyright law is of course on your side. But who owns the story? Also those of the Revolutionary Cells and the Red Zora? Certainly not former left-wing radicals who want to screw a lid on it. Rather, it belongs to today's activists who have to find ways to further develop emancipatory politics in the fight against repression and reaction.

One of the owners of the publishing house ID-Archivtaz-Culture editor Andreas F. published, almost at the same time as his letter to Immergrün, an interview with the former RZ member Thomas K., who avoided going to prison through statements in court and a deal with the federal prosecutor. Fun Fact: In the planned Immergrün edition ofGrapes of WrathThe disreputable behavior of some RZ activists towards the judiciary should also be discussed in an appendix because it played a role in the end of the RZ. It is conceivable that this could be unpleasant for some people. Also that they want to suppress publication of this aspect of their story with the help of acquaintances who can bring copyright to justice.

What now? Some in thefruitsThe texts contained in the Rote Zora have fortunately been republished by Unrast Verlag, although without addressing the behavior of some Red Zora activists in court - ID Verlag did not take any action.

A publication solution must and will be found for the texts of the Revolutionary Cells, which as such do not fall under ID-Verlag's copyright, and for a critical and solidarity-based review.

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