Recording Cover Versions - Copyright Question ?

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Originally Posted by Sporky_McGuffin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyrig...und_recordings

Am I the only person here with access to the inferweb? :D

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No, but its nice being right without having to look it up :)

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Originally Posted by tapper_mike

Copyrights do last forever. Even Bach

If you are doing a cover you'll have to approach the publisher and pay for it in advanced.

Harry Fox is a one stop shopping for many a published song.
http://www.harryfox.com/public/Licensee.jsp

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They do last forever, it's who owns them that has an expiry date, and if a persons copyright expires and no one renews it the song becomes public domain and is fair game, which is just as good as no copyright. The only thing to be careful about with public domain is that an artist can copyright their arrangement of a public domain song, so making your own arrangement is the way to go. You used to be able to search songs for copyright ownership, maybe even at Harry Fox. When doing the credits you would list it as "Original Songwriters Name(S), or Traditional or Anonymous(if no one knows who wrote it), Arranged by Me"(insert your name here). I got this info from a SOCAN rep, Canada's version of BMI, ASCAP etc.....