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]

no idea how it is for usa

no idea how it is for usa

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.