Copyrights, Fair Use et al

[Adrian A. Durlester <durleste...>]

Ok gang, time for a review.

Let me ask you this: If you see a product without a hecksher, do you assume it 
is ok to eat?

Why is a piece of paper without a copyright notice on it any different? The 
copyright exists. Copyright is protected under common law as well as the 
specific provisions of US Code title 17 (copyright law.)  More importantly, the 
teachings of Torah (written and oral) tell us that ownership should be 
respected, credit given where it is due, etc.

We go through this discussion periodically here on hanashir. While we encourage 
sharing among ourselves, we must always be mindful of the ethics of what we do. 
If someone is making a living from something, we shouldn't be passing it around 
amongst ourselves without their direct and specific blessing.

The other part to this discussion is attribution. I, personally, see little 
problem if one of us writes out the chords to something and shares that with 
others. It does get different if they write out a full lead sheet with melody 
line, lyrics and all and shares that when that music is available for purchase 
somewhere. In all cases, even when it's just chords, proper attribution to the 
copyright holder is called for. It's a good habit to get into.

BTW, copyright law specifically permits performances of non-dramatic literary 
works, musical works, or dramatico-musical works of a religious nature in the 
course of services at a place of worship or religious assembly (which 
personally, I think includes Jewish camp settings-Joel Siegel-you care to 
comment?) and says these are not infringement of copyright. (USC Title 17 Chap 
1:110)

For more information on issues of copyright law, visit these web sites:

http://w3.gwis.com/~sarbar/

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/

Adrian







On Thursday, March 12, 1998 12:35, Chazzzan [SMTP:Chazzzan (at) aol(dot)com] 
wrote:
> I stand corrected!  I have received songsheets, with and without chords, with
> and without copyrights shown...maybe I need someone to go through them
> (Adrian) and see which ones are OK to mail to people and which are not.
>
> I tell you what...I will send my archives to Adrian...does he get an hourly
> fee for reviewing copyright infringement?
>
> Happy Purim all
>
> Brian