Are Old Interviews Copyrighted?

[CrowsofFritz]

I have a radio show, and our station pays a license that covers all copyrighted songs. I know it doesn't cover recorded movie scenes or recorded comedy skits, etc.

Are interviews copyrighted? I'm doing a show for the 50th anniversary the Beatles played on the Ed Sullivan show, and I want to include a funny interview with John Lennon in there. It took place in Germany. Would there be a problem if I played that over the air?

 

[grimtraveller]

There's not much John could do about it !

 

[CrowsofFritz]

Oh okay, so it be the property of the interviewee and not the company of te interviewer?

 

[PTravel]

I have a radio show, and our station pays a license that covers all copyrighted songs. I know it doesn't cover recorded movie scenes or recorded comedy skits, etc.

Are interviews copyrighted? I'm doing a show for the 50th anniversary the Beatles played on the Ed Sullivan show, and I want to include a funny interview with John Lennon in there. It took place in Germany. Would there be a problem if I played that over the air?

Any original expression fixed in a tangible medium is protected by copyright (not, "copyrighted"). Public performance is one of the protected rights under copyright. The license your station pays is through BMI/ASCAP and covers only music. So, yes, it would be infringement of copyright in the recording if you were to play it.

 

[PTravel]

Oh okay, so it be the property of the interviewee and not the company of te interviewer?

Oy.

It is the property of whoever owns the copyright in the recording. It is not the property of the interviewee unless, for example, Lennon recited lyrics from one of his songs. It may belong the production company who produced the interview, the network that broadcast it, or some other person or entity to whom it was assigned.

PTravel, Esq.
A lawyer who practices intellectual property law.

 

[grimtraveller]

That'll teach me to crack jokes in bad taste !