Copywritten material

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pianomanjoe

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What is the 'rule of thumb' for recording copywritten material, like older standards from Cole Porter, Rogers and Hart, Gershwin, etc.. that I'd like to perform, record and sell in two's and fews from places where I might perform?

I know this isn't a forum discussing the legalities of copyright here, but I'd like to get some general feedback on this idea.

Thanks
 
i can never remember how long a copyright is good for ... but as a practicle concern ascap aint gonna chase ya down for what i think you're proposing...
 
dementedchord said:
i can never remember how long a copyright is good for ... but as a practicle concern ascap aint gonna chase ya down for what i think you're proposing...
Click to expand...

Hi dementedchord, my general impression of the length of time a copyright lasts isn't so much concerned with time as it is a song's activity in the marketplace.

Although I may be waaaay off base in reality...but it'd be good to know.
 
pianomanjoe said:
Hi dementedchord, my general impression of the length of time a copyright lasts isn't so much concerned with time as it is a song's activity in the marketplace.

Although I may be waaaay off base in reality...but it'd be good to know.
Click to expand...

might be interesting if one of the lawyer types (there are a couple around here) were to comment... i do think it's a time limited thing though and if memory serves it can be passed to survivors etc...
 
The whole public domain thing gets tricky. At one time a copyright lasted for somethig like 95 years, but I think in 1996 there was some legislative changes.

Several years ago we were going to record a standard that we thought would be in public domain and it got soooo complicated we decided not to record the song.

The Harry Fox Agency is probably the most knowledgable source when it comes to questions about copyrights and public domain.
 
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A lot of your questions may be answered here:
http://www.pdinfo.com/faq.htm

Of course, this is the legal part. As said, it is unlikely anyone is goign to come after you for selling a few CDs of you performing other people's music.
 
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