Copyright on Bonnie Parker Poems??

Subject: Copyright on Bonnie Parker Poems??
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 06:06 PM

We're on with recording an album right now and hope to include Rachel's setting of Bonnie Paker's poem Outlaws (1930). Anyone know the copyright situation here???

Subject: RE: Copyright on Bonnie Parker Poems??
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 06:21 PM

If you're based in the UK, copyright expires 70 years after the death of the author/composer (on Dec 31st). She died in 1934, so you're OK on that score, but Bonnie was American and I'm not sure what the law is there, or how it applies to Europe, or if they're bilateral, or what.

However I seem to remember that the 70-years-after-death was one of the longest periods to wait before the work goes into public domain.

Subject: RE: Copyright on Bonnie Parker Poems??
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 06:24 PM

This may help shed some light:

http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm

You can also download a .PDF of it

Subject: RE: Copyright on Bonnie Parker Poems??
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 07:22 PM

A North Texas author named Jeff Guinn has a new book out about Bonnie and Clyde called Go Down Together, the True, Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde. He was a journalist and book editor for years at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and interviewed a lot of people and looked at local sources. He was particularly interested in debunking a lot of the myths surrounding this pair. I suggest you see if you can get a copy of this from your library (I think it was on the NY Times bestseller list for a while, so it may be readily available). He probably makes a note about who holds what would constitute a collection pertaining to Bonnie Parker. There may be a relative who holds or has renewed copyright on her work.

It's fine to look at information about copyright, but what you really need to research is who holds the copyright in this instance. If I can help you, or if you find the book doesn't point you in the right direction and you'd like me to contact Mr. Guinn for you, I can do that.

SRS

Subject: RE: Copyright on Bonnie Parker Poems??
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 04:13 AM

It's fine to look at information about copyright, but what you really need to research is who holds the copyright in this instance.
Surely the copyright will still have lapsed. You may transfer your copyright (by sale/gift/will) to a third party, but on the basis that you cannot sell something that you do not own then the new copyright holder cannot have copyright to the material beyond the date that its creator's copyright would have expired. (in UK at least). Renewal of copyright may be available on a particular layout of the work (Publication copyright UK= 25 years), but this is for that particular layout only (no photocopying etc.) The underlying work itself would be out of copyright protection.

Subject: RE: Copyright on Bonnie Parker Poems??
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 04:14 AM

If the work has gone into the public domain, no one holds the copyright any longer and anyone is free to use it.

Subject: RE: Copyright on Bonnie Parker Poems??
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 04:16 AM

Sorry, cross-posted with Nigel!

Subject: RE: Copyright on Bonnie Parker Poems??
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 03:09 PM

Also by Bonnie Parker is "The Story of Bonnie and Clyde," written in 1930 shortly before they were killed.
I don't know of a setting for this poem.
Thread 43122.

This verse particularly caught me-

The road was dimly lighted;
There were no highway signs to guide:
But they made up their minds
If all roads were blind,
They wouldn't give up till they died.

Badman Ballads 2

"Outlaws-Billy the Kid and Clyde Barrow," original poem in nine verses by Bonnie Parker at http://oldpoetry.com

Subject: RE: Copyright on Bonnie Parker Poems??
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 03:28 PM

Thanks all! I think we're reaching a point of clarity on this one. You can hear a demo of Rachel singing her setting of Bonnie Parker's Outlaws on her Myspace page. Kiplingesque or what??

Subject: RE: Copyright on Bonnie Parker Poems??
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 03:44 PM

U. S. Copyright Law, Chapter Three.
(see effect of Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act).

http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap3.html#304

Subject: RE: Copyright on Bonnie Parker Poems??
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 04:28 PM

Surely the copyright will still have lapsed. You may transfer your copyright (by sale/gift/will) to a third party, but on the basis that you cannot sell something that you do not own then the new copyright holder cannot have copyright to the material beyond the date that its creator's copyright would have expired.

Nigel, this is the U.S. If Bonnie Parker's heirs kept up the copyright then you need to know about that. If an institution holds the papers, then you need to discuss copyright with them.

SRS

Subject: RE: Copyright on Bonnie Parker Poems??
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 04:37 PM

If you look at the web page I linked to, it tells you the various copyright terms in the US. Once those periods have expired, the material goes into the public domain and copyright becomes no longer relevant. The heirs can't keep up a copyright beyond its legal life. The question is what that legal life IS, hence the info.

Subject: RE: Copyright on Bonnie Parker Poems??
From: Big Mick
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 04:58 PM

I believe Bonnie has it right.

Mick

Subject: RE: Copyright on Bonnie Parker Poems??
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 05:21 PM

Bonnie, read Chapter 3 of the Copyright Law.
Copyright may exist up to 95 years after first appearance. See the Bono provision. Some poems were published in the Dallas Morning News and other papers in 1934. They may have taken copyright.

I can't find any specific information on "Outlaws"
1
Billy rode on a pinto horse,
Billy the Kid I mean,
And he met Clyde Barrow riding
In a little grey machine.

2
Billie drew his bridle rein
And Barrow stopped his car
And the dead man talked to the living man
Under the morning star.
..........