Copyright - Editions And Transpositions?, who owns the copyright? Options

[neil.clarinet]

It can be hard to draw the line sometimes with what actually gives you intellectual property rights. I wanted to put up the Tartini Concertino for clarinet and strings (with backing on MIDI), but although Tartini is long, long dead, it is actually arranged from a violin sonata. It's probably note for note most of the time, but it's still an arrangement by someone still in copyright. Also, as there are usually many editions of the same piece, no-one will really know what edition you use to perform, and of course the performer should make their own decisions as well (something we looked at in my musicology course here). As far as I know the copyright in editions applies to physical reproduction, ie photocopying, downloading without payment, copying as another edition exactly as etc. I wouldn't think transposing a piece gives you copyright, as it's not really showing any skill or intelligence.

The Happy Birthday thing does surprise me somewhat. For such a universally known song it sounds bizzare, for want of a better word. You're not exactly hearing something you otherwise wouldn't have known.

[sarah-flute]

From that site, it looks like the tune itself is not copyrighted but the words are? Or did I misunderstand it? I wonder what the words are copyrighted as, as surely each time ones sings it they change slightly, depending on whom one is singing to....

I rather like the idea of everyone who uses it writing to the copyright owners (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Rink]

From that site, it looks like the tune itself is not copyrighted but the words are? Or did I misunderstand it? I wonder what the words are copyrighted as, as surely each time ones sings it they change slightly, depending on whom one is singing to....

The melody/tune is not copyright.

Changing the one word (someone's name) of a song wouldn't normally let you claim it as your own either. Otherwise I'd have some great tracks in my portfolio. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Edit: But its quite bizarre that lyrics as basic as that (and one's that have passed into western culture) would be protected.

[purple viola]

But its quite bizarre that lyrics as basic as that (and one's that have passed into western culture) would be protected.

If you read some of the articles that the site gives links to it seems that the copyright for the lyrics is a bit dubious.