Looking for site to check copyright date

Subject: RE: Looking for site to check copyright date
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 31 Oct 05 - 06:03 PM

UK regulations:
http://www.patent.gov.uk/copy/

There are several threads on this topic at Mudcat, with most inventive and peculiar advice

Subject: RE: Looking for site to check copyright date
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 31 Oct 05 - 04:20 PM

In UK the expression "copyright date" is meaningless.

Subject: RE: Looking for site to check copyright date
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 31 Oct 05 - 03:55 PM

I think that the questioner is in the UK. Various American organisations do have web-based resources, but these typically include very misleading information and will only confuse a beginner. US copyright law is also rather different.

Which organisation you might usefully contact (typically MCPS or PRS in the UK) would depend largely on why you want the information. On the whole, it might be easiest all round if you said what you intend to do with the songs concerned, and tell us what they are.

Subject: RE: Looking for site to check copyright date
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 31 Oct 05 - 03:35 PM

My understanding is that a song goes out of copyright 70 years (non-renewable) after the composer's death. That's the story in the UK, but surely with all the multi-national agreements which have dozens of countries as signatories, it would be the same for Europe & North America...? Wouldn't it? I'd be glad if someone could clarify this for me, because I've been informed by PRS (the Performing Right Society) that after 70 years of the composer's demise the piece is in the public domain. Apologies if this has been covered in other threads but I'm writing in a rush and don't have time for a trawl right now, and there are no nifty links above to help the energy-challenged. Thanks!

Subject: RE: Looking for site to check copyright date
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Oct 05 - 03:04 PM

Scroll down on this page and you may find some help, for the US, that is.

Subject: RE: Looking for site to check copyright date
From: MMario
Date: 31 Oct 05 - 02:56 PM

where are you located? it *does* make a difference as to where might be best for you to look.

Subject: Looking for site to check copyright date
From: Tcrier
Date: 31 Oct 05 - 02:50 PM

Need to locate copyright dates for several songs