Heads I Have Known

[mahayana]

Well, the law is pretty straightforward, also way out of step with the current technology. Passed in 1909, it gives the author 28 years of exclusive rights, and may be renewed one time by whoever owns the copyright at the end of that term. So, if our (word for the fear of lawsuits) was high, nothing newer than 1948 could safely be displayed or printed (without permission in writing). And technically, every bar band should be paying money to each holder of each copyright of each song they do, each time they perform it. Ah, music...how did materialism and the spectre of the jailhouse get involved? Another way to look at it, is that we're providing free advertising for the people who do make money from a song, each time we mention it or offer suggestions on how to do a new version.

I'll have to ask my son, the lawyer.

[Professor1]

As far as arranging goes, I'm not sure how the copyright law works, because it is part someone else's work, and part your own. You've created an original work based on another.

As far as bar bands go, No, they are not responsible for royalties on live performances. The venue owner is. This is because it is the venue and it's owner who derive the ultimate benefit from the performance. These licenses cost $1500-ish a year.

I was asking about copyright because of the possible theft of the work.

BTW, copyrighted music is a result of recording technology, beginning over 100 years ago. Before that, plagiarism of music was quite normal and routine, and was not seen as wrongful.

[jazzalta]

For those of you who pop into this forum once in a while I have arranged many "standards" in tef format that I'm willing to share via our resource page:

f2.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/pinsk9494 (click on jazz guitar forum)

If there is a particular tune you'd like to compare your arrangement to or for any other reason, please feel free to contact me via this forum. I've got well over 100 of the more popular guitar standards. Something to keep in mind.