i want to download and make copies of some old music to use for my business but i've search for the copyright laws, they say u have to ask for permission to do so, regardless how old the music is. but like there are to many songs, i cant ask for permission of every single one
2007-10-30 09:23:34 · 4 answers · asked by happyface 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
so if i buy a large amount of cds an use them for business, will i ever be sued for using their music to make money, eventhough the cds are copyrighted and are my property
2007-10-30 09:34:28 · update #1
The laws vary by country -- in the US, recent changes have made it 70 years after the death of the author, or 120 years for corporations.
Some older songs had already lapsed into public domain prior to 1976 -- and there is legal ambiguity whether they can be pushed back under copyright once they had already lapsed into the public domain.
Generally, anything produced prior to 1900 is safe and anything prior to 1930 is probably safe.
As for using CDs -- such purchase carries an implied license for personal use only -- you generally cannot use the sings in advertising without an additional specific license.
2007-10-30 10:39:32 · answer #1 · answered by coragryph 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Some have, I do know that some of the older Beatles material is in fact not protected by copyright (make sure to double check the specifics of that).
2007-10-30 16:32:49 · answer #2 · answered by Pfo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the person was even mildly popular I bet some record company owns the rights and those songs they'e as sueable as ones released yesterday.
2007-10-30 16:33:17 · answer #3 · answered by Nick T 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some might have expired, if the author is dead. However, even if they are dead, a company might own the copyright. So, you do have to check each one.
2007-10-30 16:27:36 · answer #4 · answered by Colonel Sturgeon 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋