Question about free music

The_Grandmaster

What is the copyright law on music in the UK? I googled this and it seems to be 50 years after the release or recording of the music or recording. Is this true?

If it is true then any music recorded/released before 50 years available on the internet is legal (such as vinyl records to mp3)?

I hope someone knows! Thank you!

giovanni

I think it's 50 years after the artist dies but if they were signed by a label it is still copyrighted.

davester

nope its 50 years from recording. I know this as I saw Cliff Richard trying to get his first songs copyright extended, so he still could claim royalties for them.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4917550.stm

Its old but all they have acknowledged is UK copyright laws are out of date. It is illegal to copy your bought CD to your own Ipod or even copy the CD to preserve the original.

lannyloo

Virgin customers need to be careful when downloading music, etc, if it is illegal and you are caught, then they will cancel your contract with them not sure if other providers are doing this as well

BruceyBonus

lannyloo wrote: »

Virgin customers need to be careful when downloading music, etc, if it is illegal and you are caught, then they will cancel your contract with them not sure if other providers are doing this as well

They'll only send you a letter. It would take a massive effort for them to work out if your P2P downloading was legal or otherwise.

lannyloo

Someone on my street was found out, and her contract was cancelled, so just going off what he said

lorweld

LEGAL GREY AREAS

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: This subject is something of a grey area where the law is concerned. Please refrain from discussing it on this forum simply because it being here may threaten the future of the site and we don’t have the resources to legally protest it (please see this rule). If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL]

The_Grandmaster

lorweld wrote: »

LEGAL GREY AREAS

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: This subject is something of a grey area where the law is concerned. Please refrain from discussing it on this forum simply because it being here may threaten the future of the site and we don’t have the resources to legally protest it (please see this rule). If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL]

Thank you very much for your concern but my original question wasn't referring to peer to peer downloading of music (which I don't endorse) but more downloading of music which was recorded say in 1900 which I believe would be free and legal to download as the copyright would have expired. I wanted to clear this up before I posted a link to a site which offers classical music which I believe is free and legal.

lorweld

Hi the grandmaster,

That wasn't aimed at you, it was more a general comment as people had started discussing illegal downloading

The_Grandmaster

Thank you lorweld! I didn't want to upset anyone by posting the link below so was being cautious.

The link I was talking about is: http://www.archive.org/details/78rpm

there are huge amounts of copies from vinyls - sound quality does vary and some have the static sounds too. I think it's best to check that the recording is at least 50 years old as people may put up more recent music.

Some music there:

Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue: http://www.archive.org/details/rhapblue11924
http://www.archive.org/details/rhapblue21924 (part 2)

Beethoven - Symphony Number 4 and 6
http://www.archive.org/details/BeethovenSymphonyNo.4
http://www.archive.org/details/BeethovenSymphony6

Strauss - The Blue Danube
http://www.archive.org/details/BlueDanubeWaltz

Stravinsky - Le Sacre de printemps
http://www.archive.org/details/StravinskyLeSacreDuPrintemps

Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker
http://www.archive.org/details/TchaikovskyNutcrackerSuite

much much more but still haven't properly looked into the website yet. Hope the music is to the taste of some people!

bigfatspacko_uk

(2) Copyright expires—

• (a) at the end of the period of 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which it is made, or

• (b) if during that period it is released, 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which it is released;

subject as follows.

So basically, anything released by 1958 is not currently covered by copyright legislation unless specifically extended by a court.

Remember though, especially for classical compositions specific recordings may be copyrighted by the performers.