Klarinet Archive - Posting 000042.txt from 1998/08

From: "Mark Charette" <charette@-----.org>
Subj: Re: [kl] Copywrite Question for "Experts"!
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 13:07:14 -0400

From: Frederick S. Sterns <fssterns@-----.net>

>Following the first rehearsal I xeroxed the entire book and put it in a
>folder for my exclusive, personal use. My objective was to avoid having to
>erase all the cues and other "gouges" at the end of the run. I plan to keep
>the folder in my personal library and refer to it again only if I do the
>same show again sometime in the future.
>
>One of the very experienced musicians in the orchestra [among other things,
>she's done probably 150 shows over the years!] tells me I am in technical
>violation of the copywrite laws...that even though I'm a legitimate user of
>the book I have no right to copy any portion of it for any purpose.
>
>I find that a curious conclusion! Can anyone comment ?

You were in violation of the copyright, plain and simple (there's no
"technical violation" of this law :^). There is no "copy for personal use"
clause in the music copyright law. My curiosity - why would you find it
curious? You do know that copying a pamphlet in its entirety is against the
law, I presume. The action you took is the same thing.

It is further against the law to copy music you _own_ (not rent) for your
personal use so that you can mark it up & play it without marking up your
original. Copying the music for any reason is a no-no.

For more information, visit http://host.mpa.org/ (The Music Publishers
Association homepage). I have personally delved pretty deep into this
subject because of my Web pages.
----
Mark Charette@-----.org
Webmaster, http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet
All-around good guy and devil-may-care flying fool.
"There can be no freedom without discipline." - Nadia Boulanger

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