copyright and the public domain (was "Re: lilypond-user faq, documentation, and small issues")

[Kieren Richard MacMillan]

Hello, all:

> > Edward Elgar died February 23rd, 1934, so his music will
> > enter the public domain a week from Monday.
>
> Actually, I don't think it will go out of copyright until 1 January  
> 2005 (in
> most countries), as I think the general rule is the end of the 70th  
> year
> after the author's death.
>
> In addition, any works he published after 1922 (if he did!) will  
> remain in
> copyright in the USA for a number of years yet.

For Canada, check this page:
     
<http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/cp/copy_gd_protect- 
e.html#section11>

For USA, check this page:
    <http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#hlc>

For other countries, check Google.  ;-)
____________________________

Basically, in the USA, anything still under copyright as of 1978 is  
copyrighted until 95 years after publication; therefore, Chris is  
correct that anything published in (e.g.) 1925 would not fall to the  
public domain until 2020. Of course, there's also the question of where  
and when something was published, if there were multiple authors (e.g.,  
lyrics), etc. -- it's sometimes very difficult to determine exactly  
when a work of art truly enters the PD...

Because of the unbelievably arcane and convoluted -- <soapbox>and  
creatively stifling</soapbox> -- copyright laws, and the fact that  
different countries apply different formulas, I've always thought that  
there should be a Database of All Things Artistic (DATA™) which clearly  
indicates what rights (if any) are held and by whom (with contact info)  
so that we can foster the cross-pollination that is the hallmark of a  
strong culture.

Anyone interested in building it with me?  =)

Best wishes,
Kieren.