Klarinet Archive - Posting 000388.txt from 2002/09

From: MaisondeHadley@-----.com
Subj: [kl] French Copyright Law
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2002 01:14:24 -0400

Since somebody mentioned Russian copyrights, I figured I would ask this. I had a musically-related independent study project this last year and have so far been unable to find what I need.
The project I undertook was a semester-long ordeal of updating a complimentary copy (the parts were not ledgible, had mistakes, French expression markings, etc.) the United States Marine Corps in Washington, D.C. gave us of an out-of-print French march by the composer Francis Popy. The march is titled Cortège de Cupidon (Cupid's Procession) and dates from either the late 19th century or the early 20th century (Popy died in 1928). If you are familiar with the Royal Marine Band of the Netherlands, this march appears on their "Kings of Marches" CD although they cut some portions from how it was originally scored.
The original publisher was bought out, and I contacted the other one listed on the score that came with our copies, and they had never heard of it. I speak enough French to have no problem navigating the web, but thus far I have had no luck in finding a definitive source for finding out about French copyright laws. Due to the fact that this march is obscure, and impossible to buy a copy of, and that the composer died in 1928, we would like to offer copies of my edition to others for basically the cost of copying and shipping. However, this is impossible to do unless I can track down French copyright records. if its public domain, that's great, but if someone renewed the copyright we could be in hot water if we did that.
Does anyone know if this information is available from the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris similar to how the US Library of Congress is, or if there is some sort of organization in France that I can contact to find this out?

Merci,
Joseph Stevens

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