Rights of music-songs

Subject: Rights of music-songs
From: GUEST,Sergio A.
Date: 14 Dec 01 - 06:07 PM

Who has the rights for songs an lyrics?

Can anyone sing and publish a The Beatles-melody or a Elvis Presley - melody , or do they have to buy and pay for the rights to make they own version ???

Does it differ from country to country, or is there a global law ?

Subject: RE: Rights of music-songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Dec 01 - 06:17 PM

That's a hard one to explain, Sergio. Generally, copyrights are international, although the U.S. Congress unilaterally extended copyrights to something like 120 years (most songs published before 1923 are in the public domain, and songs published after that can go up to 120 years. Performing in a not-for-profit situation is generally exempted from the requirement to pay royalties (fees) for use of a song - but apparently the pubs in Great Britain may have to pay fees if they allow their patrons to sing.
-Joe Offer-