Welcome to Public Domain Guide
Public Domain Music Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
What is the Public Domain?
from:There is an enormous amount of content, online and offline, that is free to use, with no restrictions whatsoever. This material is said to be in the public domain. Some of this material was copyrighted at one time; however the copyright has since expired and so it is now part of what has come to be known as the public domain.
How to Tell if Content is in the Public Domain
You may have to do a bit of work in order to discern whether or not the content you have discovered is indeed part of the public domain. Otherwise, you could infringe on someone’s copyright and this could spell trouble for you. There are a few basic rules to follow when you are looking for public domain content but you may still need to verify that the content you want to use is really part of the public domain.
Public Domain Content from an Expired Copyright
Before 1923, works that received a copyright had a 75 year reign of copyright protection. Although there was a renewal process that could extend the copyright, many creators of those works had passed away before the copyright ended and so did not extend the copyright. Those works are now in the public domain and many savvy Internet marketers have taken advantage of that and made a lot of money using those materials.
Works Never Copyrighted
Although today’s copyright laws are vastly different from those of the past, there are an unlimited number of resources in the public domain that never received a copyright at all and so are free for others to use. In some cases, the author meant for those works to be a part of the public domain; that is, he or she wanted to share their material with the world. In other cases, since no copyright was ever registered, those works became a part of the public domain. Today, however, you don’t have to register your word in order for it to be copyrighted as copyright is automatic. Still, there is a lot of material from days gone past that you can use today; either as it is or by modifying it.
Examples of Public Domain Works
Although the written word as it exists in books and other text comprises a large part of what is available in the public domain, there are far more resources than just writings. Music, photographs, images, and software are all available in the public domain as well. While there are many online resources where you can find material in the public domain, there are offline resources as well. Used bookstores, for instance, are a goldmine when it comes to searching for works in the public domain. You may need to conduct a search at the federal government’s copyright website to verify that no copyright currently exists, but it will be time well spent if you are able to produce products from these materials.
Public Domain Music Specific links
Public Domain Music News
Music industry titan, philanthropist Howie Richmond dies - The Desert Sun
Music industry titan, philanthropist Howie Richmond dies The Desert Sun RANCHO MIRAGE — Howie Richmond, one of the major behind-the-scenes manufacturers of the pop music industry, died Sunday morning at his Rancho Mirage home. He was 94. Family members said he died peacefully in his bed after several weeks of ... |
Digital archivists: technological custodians of human history - Ars Technica
 Ars Technica | Digital archivists: technological custodians of human history Ars Technica As paper and dyes deteriorate, acetate degenerates, and the minute magnetic flux recorded in analog tape fades with the ages, how do we preserve cultural artifacts like photographs, music, and film? And what of more modern digitally created media? |
Songs We Wish We Could Forget: Billy Ray Cyrus' "Achy Breaky Heart" - Blinded By Sound
Songs We Wish We Could Forget: Billy Ray Cyrus' "Achy Breaky Heart" Blinded By Sound It's really reductive country that sounds like something somebody would use if they needed public domain generic country music. So yeah, “Achy Breaky Heart” deserves its status as one of the worst songs of all time. You'll get no argument from me here. |
Main Events 05/17/12 - Leader-Telegram
Main Events 05/17/12 Leader-Telegram The hourlong show weaves original and public domain music by The RiverBenders with storytelling by Kenny Salwey, Jerry Way and Tim Scobie. The show is normally performed and recorded in Alma for re-broadcast on Wisconsin Public Television. Busy weekend on the hill |
Cannes 2012: Digital Domain to Launch Abu Dhabi Studio - Hollywood Reporter
 Hollywood Reporter | Cannes 2012: Digital Domain to Launch Abu Dhabi Studio Hollywood Reporter Digital Domain, which went public late last year, is known for a hologram of dead rapper Tupac Shakur that appeared at the Coachella Valley Music Festival together with Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. Cannes 2012 : Wayne Borg and John Textor. |