[Dixielandjazz] Re: Public Domain (was BMI licensing)

[Chris Calabrese]

Anything published before 1923 is automatically in the public domain.
http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/training/Hirtle_Public_Domain.htm

~ Chris

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Haesler" <bhaesler at bigpond.net.au>
To: "Will Connelly" <willc at highstream.net>
Cc: "dixieland jazz mail list" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 2:51 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Re: Public Domain (was BMI licensing)


> Dear Will,
> Regarding your advice: >Songs enter public domain when their copyright
> protection ends. In the US, currently, that's 75 years after the death of
> the composer.<
> Year 2003 minus 75 years = 1928.
> Who has a list of all the popular song composers who died prior to that
> milestone year?
> OK. Scott Joplin, Jim Europe and...................?
> That means we have quite a few years to go before we can safely play songs
> by the ODJB (LaRocca 1961, Shields 1953, Edwards 1963), King Oliver 1938,
> Lil Hardin-Armstrong 1971, Jelly Roll Morton 1941, Elmer Schoebel 1970,
> George/Ira Gershwin 1937/1983, Cole Porter 1964, Ellington 1974, Fats
Waller
> 1943, Andy Razaf 1973, et al, with impunity. And even a Will Connelly rag
or
> two?
> And what if someone in the family (or a publisher) decides to extend the
> copyright just prior to the expiry of the 75 year period?
> Do BMI, ASCAP and the other carrions-eaters of the music world keep a
handy
> reference 'death list' of their composer-customers?
> PD still seems like a limited-option minefield to me.
> Very kind regards,
> Bill.
>
>
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