how can one find out if a song (record), movie, or TV show is in public domain?

Question

Some old TV programs are in public domai. Same with a lot of 50's and 60's songs. And old movies from the 50's and before. How long does a copyright last before it goes into public domain? And where can I find out which are in public domain?

Answer 1

Even if a TV program or Movie should be in Public Domain, that does not mean the music track is. Most any song written after 1925 should be considered to still be in rights. Publishers of popular songs were more apt to renew rights than bean-counters at movie studios. The composer of the music would be a member of ASCAP, BMI or Sesac. These organizations have on-line data bases. For movie sound tracks, compositions are usually titled as "cues".

some times the soundtracks used even older "classical" music, so even if the movie is in rights, certain themes may be in public domain.

You will have to research every song you are interested in separately as no general rule applies.

Answer 2

$1,500