Copyright issue UK - Help!!

Subject: Copyright issue UK - Help!!
From: muppitz
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 07:28 AM

While at my local library I was browsing through a book of coal mining poems and stories, I found a poem, only credited as "Traditional", I thought would be pretty good to go with a chord sequence I was having trouble putting my own words to.
So I did just that.
However while researching some of the technical words contained within said poem, I found a link to a web site which states that someone called Harry Boardman has already beat me to it.
I have no idea as to the tune or tempo of his version but as it is described as a ballad, on the aformentioned web site, I'm willing to bet that it's not the same as mine.
My question is this: Does Harry Boardman now have a claim to these Lyrics, or am I ok to use them providing my song doesn't sound the same as his?

Thanks for any advice
Muppitz x

Subject: RE: Copyright issue UK - Help!!
From: GUEST,Ian Pittaway
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 08:31 AM

No, HB has no claim to copyright to any lyrics that are traditional or in the public domain, only for the tune he writes for them. Hope this helps.

Subject: RE: Copyright issue UK - Help!!
From: GUEST,M.G.John
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 08:48 AM

You got back o.k. then?

Subject: RE: Copyright issue UK - Help!!
From: muppitz
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 08:59 AM

ok from where?

Subject: RE: Copyright issue UK - Help!!
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 12:49 PM

UK government copyright information:
Copyright
They respond to questions through their enquiry unit- fax, email, phone, and with information packs.

Subject: RE: Copyright issue UK - Help!!
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 12:54 PM

Oops! Not awake yet.
It is listed as http://www.patent.gov.uk/copy/
Copyright

Subject: RE: Copyright issue UK - Help!!
From: PennyBlack
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 01:31 PM

as said Harry's tune and recordings of the song hold copyright, but if the song is "trad" no registered copyright exists (so no payment is due to MCPS - you will still need to enter details of the song on the MCPS forms if you intend to record it and they will confirm if copyright exists as it's not unknown for songs to be attributed as Trad when infact they're not)

PB

Subject: RE: Copyright issue UK - Help!!
From: PennyBlack
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 01:33 PM

http://www.mcps.co.uk/

the above may be of interest


PB