I am wondering if books from the communist era in east Europe (specifically Bulgarian books, published around 1981), that are technical in nature and have been published from a state run publishing house, are copyrighted.
What if I am to translate such a book in to English and publish it as my own work (without hiding the fact that it is a translation of the original text), can I sell it or upload it to my website to generate add revenue?
The only question that may be disputed is the ownership of those copyrights; the copyright exists as a matter of international law since the 19th century (ca. 1886 depending on the signatory states joining) subject to the Berne Conventional. Bulgaria has been a signatory state in each of its state forms. The point made below is analogously applicable here: Just because the Soviet Union kept Bulgaria under autocratic rules, the cessation of the USSR would not mean the independent state of Bulgaria would be deprived of the copyright subject work of art; it is questionable what will remain with the state, and what could be reclaimed be individuals creating those materials, but it is clear that the copyright protection will not cease.
From the perspective of an author of copyright work of art:
If you can substantiate that you acted outside of your agency under autocratic rule while creating the original, especially, if you were persecuted and/or, in fact, trafficked, in general, I would say you could make a strong claim that you should be allowed at least to use your own work or if such facts are known to a potential claimant (e.g. the Member State of Bulgaria), you probably wouldn't have to worry much as they would likely not attempt to enforce any unjust law as they may end up on the European Court of Justice.
