Yes, you would think that since the Church published these materials, we would have the right to post them online. But modern copyright law isn’t that simple. It defines putting text or a PDF online as a separate publishing effort from printing the publication on paper, and requires the specific written permission from the authors, photographers, illustrators, and whoever contributed to the publication to do each of these publishing activities. For current publications, we get all these full rights so that we can publish them in print, digital, online, and in all formats. But for older publications, we didn’t get these full rights.

To create the set of magazine text back to 1971, for example, we had to contact every author, photographer, and illustrator, and get their specific written permission. This was a monumental task. Some of these people had passed away or were not reachable, or didn’t give their permission. Therefore, some of the illustrations and photographs had to be omitted from the online version, and in some cases, entire articles omitted.

We’re doing our best to get the core materials online in the best usable formats. Our first priority is to get the current materials, then work backward from there. Other organizations, such as LDS Media and Deseret Book are creating archives of some older materials.

You make an interesting comment at the end of your post. Many of us have looked forward to the day when the gospel library on LDS.org would be filled with PDF versions of older church publications going back to the beginning of 1900. Such publications could include older Priesthood and Relief Society manuals, older Church magazines and various assorted statements from the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. It could also include youth publications and other interesting historical items.

When you mentioned that we can only go back to 2001 with PDF versions, I was confused. The church owns the copyrights on its publications so why would we be prevented from going back and digitizing these items? If they are available in text form, PDF is just providing the text and graphics in the same printed form in which it was originally issued.

Any light you can shed on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.