Re: [ARSCLIST] Arhoolie (et al) & copyrights--artists rights

["tom@xxxxxxxxxxxx" <tom@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> From: stevenc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> However, it leaves everything
> <75 years old still protected, whether or not Arhoolie or someone else has it
in
> their catalog and thus needs protection, and thus inaccessible to anyone who
> doesn't happen to have a copy of the original issue!

Good point. Ok, so anything that is dormant and unissued for ?? years falls
under a statutory licensing rate with the royalties paid to the copyright
holder until their 75 years is up.

I don't think this will be a real problem, since I truly believe that all
companies will eventually have all of their material available on line.

Those who want the traditional hard copy CD with the beautiful graphics,
historical photos and detailed discographical notes by Dick Spotswood, will
have to buy the box set found only in dusty specialty stores with wild eyed
record fanatics behind the counter!

There is a thinking by most of us, that includes me, that if an artist
issues some music, that it should be available for ever. What if I recorded,
in, my youth, on my own self produced label, a misguided, sexist, racist,
politically ugly, recording and I later became aware of my stupidity and
never wanted this hateful item to ever be reissued. Then some sexist,
racist, politically ugly organization decides to reissue it as their theme
song with my name plastered all over it, and because of P.D. or statutory
licensing (that we are talking about) they are allowed to and I have no
right to stop them.

Does an artist or company have any right to hold back something that they at
one time made available to the public? I usually believe that once you let
something go out into the public, too bad. If fact I have used this concept
when recording bands to get their best performance..."Better do it right
because once we issue it, it's out there forever with your name on it!"
But sometimes I wonder.

>
> NOTE: This refers ONLY to the actual copyright on the sound recording, and
> not
> to publisher or composer rights/royalties since they latter are covered by
> compulsory license.
>

Yeah, why doesn't anyone complain about the length of song publishing
copyrights. Why aren't performance and publishing copyrights the same
length.



Tom Diamant
Arhoolie Records
10341 San Pablo Ave.
El Cerrito, CA 94530
USA

510-525-7471
fax: 510-525-1204
email: tom@xxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.arhoolie.com