The Rule with Music Copyrights - 70 Years?

[lone.smuggler]

If your looking to use an old song in a film. If the original artist has been dead for more then 70 years, isn't there a rule that that music piece if unprotected can be open for the general public for use in there ..films?

I may have screwed that around a little, but I'm sure thats the basics of it..

Looking to use an old country song in a film, so was curious if anybody knew the details of this.

Thank's. :)

[Drew Ott]

I'm pretty sure that's the case, but you can't use somebody else's recording of the song.

For my TimeFest entry I played a song older than 70 years on the piano and recorded it.

[TheMacB]

here's a helpful chart for what pieces are in the public domain:
http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/public_domain/

[timbook2]

here in Europe you can use an original recording if it is older than 60 years and the composer is over 70 years dead. I did use some old shellack records for an international feature film with no problem.

[Batutta]

You can find a ton of old public domain recordings for download here--

http://www.archive.org/details/audio_music

[lone.smuggler]

Thank's for your reply's guys. Very helpful.

The case with my song is:


The first recording was made by Ernestine Schumann-Heink in 1915. Weatherly gave the song to Elsie Griffin, who made it one of the most popular in the new century.


Ernestine Schumann-Heink
(15 June 1861 - 17 November 1936)

So, 1936 - 2008 = 72 Years?

Should be fine..
It's a European, Irish song. Also for a Twilight Fest film.



It's interesting looking back at past media, it's evolved so much, and so may the RIP. :)

[Charli]

I thought that music became public domain in 50 years if not reregistered.