Re: [Harp-L] Supreme Court Re-Copyright Decision

[philharpn@xxxxxxx]

The article in question (see link), points out that this Supreme Court ruling only covers OLD FOREIGN works -- not everything in the public domain (published before 1923). In other words, this deals mostly with classical musical (symphonic) works. 


Here is the nut graf: 
"For a variety of reasons, the works at issue, which are foreign and produced decades ago, became part of the public domain in the United States but were still copyrighted overseas. In 1994, Congress adopted legislation to move the works back into copyright, so U.S. policy would comport with an international copyright treaty known as the Berne Convention."
Basically, this SCOTUS decision has very little -- if any -- impact on the harmonica community. How many harmonica players perform European music that will now be back in the private domain. "Peter and the Wolf" anybody???


Hope this helps clear up matters,


Phil Lloyd


BTW: When Mickey Mouse's copyright again approaches its expiration date, you can count on Congress to extend the copyright law to keep Mickey safe for Disney Studios.


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-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Sandy <slyou65@xxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Mon, Jan 23, 2012 4:05 am
Subject: [Harp-L] Supreme Court Re-Copyright Decision


This may be of great interest to all Harp-L friends: http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/01/scotus-re-copyright-decision/
Congress may take books, musical compositions and other works out of the public 
domain, where they can be freely used and adapted, and grant them copyright 
status again, the Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.
 
...re-copyrighting public works would breach the speech rights of those who are 
now using those works without needing a license. There are millions of 
decades-old works at issue.
 
Lockjaw Larry