"In 1996, copyright was automatically restored in certain foreign works that were then in the public domain in the United States but were protected by copyright or neighboring rights in the source country. Owners of a restored work were directed to notify reliance parties if the owner of the rights planned to enforce the rights. One means of notification was filing with the Copyright Office a Notice of Intent to Enforce (NIE) a Restored Copyright."
U.S. Copyright Office - Notices of Restored Copyrights


Until 1996 Vines Expository Dictionary was a public domain work. On May 24th 1996, as a result of the The Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA), the copyright was restored to Thomas Nelson Publishers. As of 7/5/2004 it does not appear that a Notice of Intent to Enforce (NIE) has been filed with the U.S. Copyright Office. NIE documents can be searched at the U.S. Copyright Office here and here.


Please direct all questions regarding copyright of Vines Expository Dictionary to:
Thomas Nelson, Inc.
PO Box 141000
Nashville, TN 37214