Posted by Ted on January 14, 2004 at 00:29:58:
I know we have a few of you out there who are more familiar with copyright law than I. My situation: I've found a book of traditional folksongs and I want to write an arrangement of some of the songs - or rather, a piece that incorporates these melodies. I believe the songs are in the public domain as they were apparantly popular well before the 1900s. However, some of them have been collected and published for the first time by the author of this book. Does this author have the rights to the melodies that she collected (discovered?), or am I allowed to do what I want with them without fear of owing royalties?
Thanks for your input,
Ted