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Origins: Trad. or copyright

17 Feb 04 - 08:49 PM (#1118105)
Subject: Origins: Trad. or copyright
From: pkferret

1. What is the best source for finding out if a song is currently under copyright or trad., etc.?
2. If it is under copyright, what is the best source for finding out who wrote a song or tune?

I tried search the library of congress, via computer, but it mostly showed who had recorded the song, not who wrote it, or if the copyright was current or had expired.


17 Feb 04 - 09:15 PM (#1118113)
Subject: RE: Origins: Trad. or copyright
From: freightdawg

a couple of sources that were suggested to me:

www.songfile.com

www.pdinfo.com

I've not checked them out quite yet, but I hope it helps.

Freightdawg


17 Feb 04 - 09:59 PM (#1118126)
Subject: RE: Origins: Trad. or copyright
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Here are links to the sites listed by Freightdawg. They seem to be the two most useful.
pdinfo
This site lists 3500 or so songs from 1922 or before that supposedly are in the public domain. Recent copyright statute revisions by Congressional Committee have changed the ground rules and pdinfo hasn't caught up. Put copyright in Lyrics and Knowledge search and look at previous threads. A real quagmire now.
By all means check out the revisions; go to Copyright Law of the United States

SongFile is one of the best if not the best on the web, but it won't answer all of your questions.

Posting titles here, because of the great variety of experience of contributors, may help you considerably.


17 Feb 04 - 10:03 PM (#1118128)
Subject: RE: Origins: Trad. or copyright
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

pdinfo didn't work- pdinfo


18 Feb 04 - 01:58 AM (#1118169)
Subject: RE: Origins: Trad. or copyright
From: Joe Offer

Actually, it's not a bad idea to ask here. A number of us have a great time researching the history of songs. There are lots of traditional songs that are misleadingly listed as being under copyright - we can usually come up with pretty accurate information, I think.
-Joe Offer-


18 Feb 04 - 04:11 AM (#1118203)
Subject: RE: Origins: Trad. or copyright
From: The Fooles Troupe

It is now rumoured - as no info has yet been formally released to the Australia Public - that one outcome of the proposed "Free" (???!!) Trade Agreement between Australia & USA is that Australia's copyright protection of 50 years after death of an author is to be extended to the US 70 years.

Robin


18 Feb 04 - 08:43 PM (#1118799)
Subject: RE: Origins: Trad. or copyright
From: M.Ted

Try these two--they link to the official data bases at BMI and ASCAP--if someone claims a copyright on a song, they'll pretty much be in one or the other:

BMI.com

ASCAP Title Search


19 Feb 04 - 12:23 AM (#1118876)
Subject: RE: Origins: Trad. or copyright
From: GUEST,.gargoyle

What do you plan to "do with it?"

Slip it into a simple CD - just do it....let reap any porfits

Play/Sing on international Song Quest - they know the laws.... better than you when you present your line-up

Have fun with a group of frieds in a bar...every-other 3rd Thursday of every other month with the letter "A" ....skip it neither you or they are that big.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle


24 Feb 04 - 08:23 PM (#1123048)
Subject: RE: Origins: Trad. or copyright
From: pkferret

Thank you for your help. Now if I can figure out how to add this thread to my personal page I'll be great.

As for what I want this info. for:
1. If we make a demo tape, I want to credit the song writer. (what do you call them, song writer, author, tune creator, .........)
2. In some cases, it would be nice to let the audience know who a song is written by. After all, we let them know when one of us wrote the song.
3. If we ever make a tape or CD, we're supposed to pay someone royalties, if it's not a traditional song. (There's another phrase for too. Trad. or ...... can't think of it.)

P.S. I'm new to mudcat, so if don't do things right, let me know,..... nicely.
      I like a site with a sense of humor!!!!!


24 Feb 04 - 08:34 PM (#1123052)
Subject: RE: Origins: Trad. or copyright
From: wysiwyg

Just below the last post, or above the text/compose box, click ADD THREAD TO TRACER. See what happens! Welcome to Mudcat!

~Susan


10 Jun 20 - 07:56 PM (#4058684)
Subject: RE: Origins: Trad. or copyright
From: GUEST,Starship

Foolish of me to ask I suppose, but are you looking for a specific song?


10 Jun 20 - 09:02 PM (#4058688)
Subject: RE: Origins: Trad. or copyright
From: GUEST,Peter Laban

After sixteen years, I doubt the search is still on


10 Jun 20 - 09:30 PM (#4058694)
Subject: RE: Origins: Trad. or copyright
From: GUEST,Starship

Yeah. I think a spammer brought it to the top, I read the thread, and then figured it was a general question, but one never knows.


11 Jun 20 - 01:41 AM (#4058721)
Subject: RE: Origins: Trad. or copyright
From: mg

i forget but there is an agency in us that is good for us songs. be very very careful with canadian songs. hard to find and then ownership might be with the eighth great nephew who does not even know he owns it. and they can be brutal. i will not ever deal with copyrights again in cds. either i know the person who wrote it and they allowed me to use it or it is absolutely beyond a doubt traditional. i don't mind paying but then it gets complicated if i want to just tell people to go ahead and copy some for their friends. i just don't want to go down that road again.


11 Jun 20 - 08:54 AM (#4058765)
Subject: RE: Origins: Trad. or copyright
From: Jeri

Starship, no spam. Nothing's been deleted from this thread. Maybe something was moved, but there are no deletions. Maybe you got this thread by searching for something else. Who knows?


11 Jun 20 - 09:24 AM (#4058770)
Subject: RE: Origins: Trad. or copyright
From: GUEST,Starship

Well, I didn't mean to open a can of worms. Sorry.