Re: Re: Copyrights for old old songs...

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Copyrights for old old songs...

Comments:
: In the USA it used to be that copyright lasted for 26 years and could be extended for another 26 years making it 52 years in total. Therefore music copyrighted before 1949 is now presumably public demain. How does the Copyright Office arrive at 1923 as the cutoff date? : Then the law was changed to be in line with the rest of the world which says that copyright expires 50 years after the composer's death. This poses the interesting question, is Gershwin's music without words now public demain? When will the songs he wrote with his brother Ira who only recently died become public domain? : Then Mickey Mouse had a 50th birthday and Disney used its muscle to get the protected period extended to 70 years in the USA. Did they succeed in moving the rest of the world in that direction? Is Mickey copyright in the USA but not in Canada or England? : I wwould love to know. : Bob Smith : : : Evening- : : : I'm currently working on a musical and I happened to write a song that uses the main melody from the "William Tell Overture" by Rossini I ended up liking the song I wrote and would like to use it, but I wasn't sure what the copyright deals were on old classical pieces like that. Is it legal for me to publish this song, or do I have to go through the motions of paying royalties and such? Thanks ever so much! : : : Malcolm : : Dear Malcolm, : : The Copyright Office has a notice that says all works prior to 1923 are out of copyright. : : M. Arthur Auslander : : Auslander & Thomas-Intellectual Property Law Since 1909 : : 505 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018 : : 212-594-6900, fax 212-244-0028, aus@auslander.com : : ELAINE's Workshop™ : : E arly L egal A dvice I s N ot E xpensive™

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