Re: FLASH: x-mas song copyright

[Heather Perkins]

>newbie Q: what are the issues with using classic christmas tunes as part of

>a flash x-mas card for a company to send to it's clients?  will i be

>breaking any law by using "White Christmas?"


Won't repeat all of what's already been said, but "White Christmas"

is indeed protected by copyright.  By the way, the "29.9 seconds"

sampling rule is a myth. You are not legally protected if you steal that

much of someone else's music. Nor are you protected if you steal someone

else's version of a public domain song, say, by lifting it from a CD.


However, there are many Christmas songs that are in the public domain,

which means you, or me, or someone like Brian, (hi, Brian!) can make and

distribute their own version of the song legally.


Public domain is it's own grey area, and to be really safe, esp. if you're

doing

web-stuff, it's best to use tunes that are _globally_ in the public domain.

Many

are not.



Info. on public domain music:

http://www.pdinfo.com/list.htm



Here is a list of music you could legally have someone do a version

of for you:


Angels We Have Heard on High, music-medieval, words-1700s

Angels from the Realms of Glory: 1816

Away in a Manger: 1887

Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella: 1553

Come, O Come, Emanuel: 1800s

Deck the Halls, music-ancient Welsh, words-1800s

The First Noel, 1833

God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen: 1827

Good King Wenceslaus: 1853

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen1827

Hark, the Herald Angels Sing: 1855

The Holly and the Ivy:1700

I Saw Three Ships: 1666

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear: 1849

Jingle Bells, James Pierpont: 1857

Jolly Old St. Nicholas, Benjamin Hanby: 1870s

Joy to the World: 1839

Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming: 1559

O Christmas Tree:1800s

O Come All Ye Faithful: 1751

O Little Town of Bethlehem: 1868

O Holy Night: m. Adam, w. Dwight: 1800s

Silent Night: 1818

The Twelve Days of Christmas: 1500s

Up on the Housetop: Benjamin Hanby, 1870s

We Three Kings: 1857

We Wish You a Merry Christmas: English, at least 1500s

What Child is This?: 1865


Hope this helps.


- Heather



- HP 2000�

Official Sound Designer for the New Millenium�


Heather Perkins

Sound Director/Senior Sound Designer

EGN Content Studios, North

http://www.egreetings.com


"I'm a lunatic with lethal combat skills"

  - XWP



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