copyright of old classical pieces
ch...@chris-melchior.com
is not copyrighted. So I can play the piece myself, and sell it as
royalty-free library music. Correct?
What is the length of time before copyright expires?
thanks in advance for any replies.
Chris
(REAL strings for realistic prices
http://www.chris-melchior.com/strings.htm )
Don Pearce
<ch...@chris-melchior.com> wrote:
No single, simple answer, but it is all here:
http://www.wipo.int/portal/index.html.en
d
Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com
Don Pearce
wrote:
OK, I can do a bit better - try this:
* Copyright in a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work
lasts for the life of the author and 70 years from the end of the year
in which he/she died.
* Copyright in a film expires 70 years after the end of the year
in which the death occurs of the last to survive of the principal
director, the authors of the screenplay and dialogue, and the composer
of any music specially created for the film.
* Copyright in a sound recording expires 50 years from the end of
the year in which it was made or, if published in this time, 50 years
from the end of the year of publication. If not published during that
50 year period, but it is played in public or communicated to the
public during that period, 50 years from the first of these to happen.
* Copyright in a broadcast expires 50 years from the end of the
year of making of the broadcast.
* Copyright in a published edition expires 25 years from the end
of the year in which the edition was first published.
Romeo Rondeau
> lasts for the life of the author and 70 years from the end of the year
> in which he/she died.
Unless the estate renews the copyright.
Romeo Rondeau
<ch...@chris-melchior.com> wrote in message
news:1144222534.8...@u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com...
Lars Farm
Please explain.
--
lars farm // http://www.farm.se
lars is also a mail-account on the server farm.se
aim: lars...@mac.com
Adrian Tuddenham
> I am presuming that a classical piece written by a long-dead composer
> is not copyrighted. So I can play the piece myself, and sell it as
> royalty-free library music. Correct?
>
> What is the length of time before copyright expires?
In the UK it's 70 years after the death of the composer; and, even if
you know that to be the case, you still have to submit an application to
the MCPS for any new recording so that they can check it and declare it
to be a "Public Domain Work".
--
~ Adrian Tuddenham ~
(Remove the ".invalid"s and add ".co.uk" to reply)
www.poppyrecords.co.uk
Romeo Rondeau
"Lars Farm" <see.bottom.of...@farm.se> wrote in message
news:1hdbmiq.3g7au01nwrdlgN%see.bottom.of...@farm.se...
> Romeo Rondeau <no...@home.com> wrote:
>
>> > * Copyright in a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work
>> > lasts for the life of the author and 70 years from the end of the year
>> > in which he/she died.
>>
>> Unless the estate renews the copyright.
>
> Please explain.
Under certain circumstances, the estate of an author can apply for an
extension of copyright protection. Also, in some circumstances, the above
mentioned 70 years is no longer accurate (this would be on mostly newer
copyrights), this was changed by the "Sonny Bono Copyright Extention Act"
Don Pearce
wrote:
Actually there is something similar here in the UK.
When J. M. Barry wrote Peter Pan, he signed over the rights and
royalties to the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children. When
the copyright was due to lapse an order was made granting copyright in
perpetuity to the hospital.
Scott Dorsey
>I am presuming that a classical piece written by a long-dead composer
>is not copyrighted. So I can play the piece myself, and sell it as
>royalty-free library music. Correct?
IF the arrangement you are using is also not copyrighted. If you are using
a Schirmer or Novalis score, you have to pay royalties. If you're using
a copy of Bach's manuscript score, you're perfectly clear.
>What is the length of time before copyright expires?
It varies a lot, but in the US you are safe assuming anything before 1923
is public domain. In the UK it gets scarier... some of Kipling's work is
still in copyright.
So, Chopin okay, Milhauld maybe not.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
Richard Crowley
>I am presuming that a classical piece written by a long-
> dead composer is not copyrighted. So I can play the
> piece myself, and sell it as royalty-free library music.
> Correct?
>
> What is the length of time before copyright expires?
Even if the copyright on the original music has truly
expired and become Public Domain, remember that the
"edition" of the sheet music you are playing from is likely
modern and protected by copyright.
If you get a copy of the original manuscript (or a very old
edition which itself is expired), THEN you have music
which is free and clear to exploit via your own performance
and recording of your performance.
Richard Crowley
> chris-melchior wrote:
>>I am presuming that a classical piece written by a long-dead composer
>>is not copyrighted. So I can play the piece myself, and sell it as
>>royalty-free library music. Correct?
>
> IF the arrangement you are using is also not copyrighted. If you are
> using
> a Schirmer or Novalis score, you have to pay royalties. If you're using
> a copy of Bach's manuscript score, you're perfectly clear.
>
>>What is the length of time before copyright expires?
>
> It varies a lot, but in the US you are safe assuming anything before 1923
> is public domain. In the UK it gets scarier... some of Kipling's work is
> still in copyright.
>
> So, Chopin okay, Milhauld maybe not.
I have found www.classicalarchives.com to be a pretty good quick
check of which composers are (or not) in Public Domain.
They don't accept recordings or MIDI files of composers who are
still protected by copyright. (Unless you provide a legal release.)
Bob Olhsson
> I am presuming that a classical piece written by a long-dead composer
> is not copyrighted. So I can play the piece myself, and sell it as
> royalty-free library music. Correct?
You can provided the transcription, orchestration or arrangement that
you are using isn't under copyright protection.
--
Bob Olhsson Audio Mastery, Nashville TN
Mastering, Audio for Picture, Mix Evaluation and Quality Control
Over 40 years making people sound better than they ever imagined!
615.385.8051 http://www.hyperback.com