Music licensing question

[ElijahHouck]

I can't remember the details, but I think I read somewhere that you don't have to get a license for distributing music after it's been around for 50 years.

For example, if I found some 50's songs, would it be alright to include them as a radio station in a mod? I've seen stuff like "40 more from the 40's," so I assume it would.

 

Of course, I'm going to be selling my mod or anything so that won't be an issue ;) .

[Khet]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain

 

There ya go.

 

Basically, here's my understanding of public domain.

 

If it was made before 1964, you're golden. But then, with the confusing way how the U.S. has mucked around with copyright I could easily be wrong. However, what I would do is go look up some of the songs included in 40 more from the 40s and figure out when years those were recorded, and then find other songs from the same years.

 

U.S. Copyright makes no sense at all. It's what we're good at. :) Confusing everyone, including ourselves.

[ElijahHouck]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain

 

There ya go.

 

Basically, here's my understanding of public domain.

 

If it was made before 1964, you're golden. But then, with the confusing way how the U.S. has mucked around with copyright I could easily be wrong. However, what I would do is go look up some of the songs included in 40 more from the 40s and figure out when years those were recorded, and then find other songs from the same years.

 

U.S. Copyright makes no sense at all. It's what we're good at. :) Confusing everyone, including ourselves.

Haha, thanks. I think I'll go ahead and add some 50's songs in there, and if asked to take them down I'll just remove them via update or something :) .

[baduk]

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

 

This site has lotsa good somgs and stuff thats public domain.

[Baelkin]

I think whether music is copyrighted has to be determined case by case, as I believe the work of some of the great artists from the period are still covered by copyright laws and owned by their respective labels/asset holders.

 

Personally I think the current copyright laws are completely retarded and ought to be revised, but I bet that whomever manages to do that will copyright the method... :P

[baduk]

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

 

This site has lotsa good somgs and stuff thats public domain.

 

 

Just look at the site i posted up there. its alot easier than having to research copyright status of each item yourself.

 

Welcome to the Archive's audio and MP3 library. This library contains over two hundred thousand free digital recordings ranging from alternative news programming, to Grateful Dead concerts, to Old Time Radio shows, to book and poetry readings, to original music uploaded by our users. Many of these audios and MP3s are available for free download.

[ElijahHouck]

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

 

This site has lotsa good somgs and stuff thats public domain.

 

 

Just look at the site i posted up there. its alot easier than having to research copyright status of each item yourself.

 

Welcome to the Archive's audio and MP3 library. This library contains over two hundred thousand free digital recordings ranging from alternative news programming, to Grateful Dead concerts, to Old Time Radio shows, to book and poetry readings, to original music uploaded by our users. Many of these audios and MP3s are available for free download.

Will do :) . Since all of the stuff there is free and not pirated, I'm sure there won't be any problems.