Klarinet Archive - Posting 000099.txt from 2010/07

From: "Lelia Loban" <lelialoban@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Re: Sheet music copyright
Date: Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:48:02 -0400

While it's true that this discussion has strayed from clarinets, I think
it's been a useful topic. Copyright is a complicated subject. Several
people have opined that nobody'd compose without the hope of getting paid.
That may be literally true, but with this nuance: Delayed gratification. As
an amateur composer, still learning what I'm doing, I'm not willing to
descend quite to the level of delusion and arrogance I'd need to imagine I
deserve to get paid for writing music right now. However, the idea that
someday I might think I deserve money does make me keep a secure grip on my
copyright, and that's why I self-publish on Sibelius (to establish
authorship and the date of composition) *but* give the music away for free
(because I want communication and criticism and I don't kid myself that
customers would pay to give it to me). The Internet has made it much easier
for composers to cover that vaguely-defined gap between rank tyro and
professional composer.

Btw, somebody mentioned work-for-hire. Early in what I might as well refer
to as my career as a magazine staff writer (though if I tried to live on the
proceeds of said career, I'd starve in the gutter), I got stuck with a
work-for-hire arrangement. Never again. Whoever invented that scheme for
publishers to pay writers half a penny a word in the magazine and then keep
all the subsequent fees and royalties from reprints in books must've had a
well-paying job working for whatever lesser demon specializes in torturing
creative people. Since then, I've found that most employers in a position
to offer writers and artists a work-for-hire contract will capitulate if we
just say no. Nicely, of course.

Speaking of "nicely," I appreciate the civility, plain Enlgish and common
sense from the people who've contributed their professional expertise about
copyright law here. Thank you!

Lelia Loban
http://members.sibeliusmusic.com/Lelia_Loban

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