Also for Bobotheclown
Duration of copyright
The 1988 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act states the duration of copyright as;
1. For literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works
70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the last remaining author of the work dies.
If the author is unknown, copyright will last for 70 years from end of the calendar year in which the work was created, although if it is made available to the public during that time, (by publication, authorised performance, broadcast, exhibition, etc.), then the duration will be 70 years from the end of the year that the work was first made available.
2. Sound Recordings and broadcasts
50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was created, or,
if the work is released within that time: 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was first released
but it could also be argued that The Beatles is a sound recording, and therefore in 4 years EMI cant make any further money from them and the white album will be free??
There;'s 2 types of copy right for songs.
Phonographic and intellectual.
The sound recording is the recording of the song they recorded for the record label.
It's the phonographic copyright of the recording, not the song itself (that belongs to the songwriters and publishers, it covers lyrics and melodies, that intellectual copyright lasts for 70 years after the writer has died)
People that want to cover the song, use lyrics or the melody need permission from the song owner (writers, publishers).
People that want to use the recording of the song need permission from the phonographic owner (record label, or in the Beatles case, the 2 surviving members, and maybe the dead members estates).
Labels often get around this by re-releasing albums, mostly re-masters etc, towards the end of the copy righted period.
By doing this they still retain the original phonographic copyright, as they're original recordings, just re-released.
