 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: tdinap
Date: 2007-11-21 21:07
When none of my bookmarks from this great resource for public domain music worked, I went to Wikipedia and discovered the following:
"On 19 October 2007 the IMSLP closed following legal threats from Universal Edition of Vienna, Austria.[17] The cease and desist letter expressed concern that some works that are in public domain in the server's location in Canada with copyright protection of 50 years post mortem, but which are protected by the 70 years post mortem term in some other countries were available in those countries. The administrator of the website decided to close down the repository, but left the forums online so that discussions into the best way to proceed could be made."
This is very frustrating--I had three or four scores I had bookmarked to print out and study or play later, all of which were in the public domain (and weren't terribly easy to find commercially, if I remember correctly). The latest thing I had was the first version of the Sonata for Two Clarinets by Francis Poulenc (published sometime in the 1920s), but everything else was much older. Why not just get rid of the works that were between 50 and 70 years old and leave the rest up? I'm all for reasonable copyright laws and enforcement, but this is just ridiculous. Hopefully Mutopia and other sites can pick up the slack.
Edit: I just realized, it's 50-70 years post mortem, not after the creation of the work. Still, there were tons of pieces up there from composers who died before the turn of the century--there's no reason why those should be taken down.
Tom
Post Edited (2007-11-21 21:09)
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2007-11-21 21:23
tdinap wrote:
> Edit: I just realized, it's 50-70 years post mortem, not after
> the creation of the work. Still, there were tons of pieces up
> there from composers who died before the turn of the
> century--there's no reason why those should be taken down.
Because to check each country's copyright laws to ensure compliance cost time & money. Different countries have different rules. It was easier to take everything down than to research each individual item.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-11-22 07:20
Cool. Now I can go and contact the govt. of Elbonia (they haven't ratified the Berne convention etc) and convince them to modify their copyright law to protect works from 500 years back and bingo! no more Strauss for New Year's concert (not that I'd care in that special case).
--
Ben
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Author: bill28099
Date: 2007-11-22 11:41
I have been following this situation for some time and as a citizen of Canada I find the actions of UE an affront to the sovereignty of my country. The student who owned and managed this website just did not have the resources to protect himself in court so decided to shut down. I personally think the National Archives or some large Canadian university should take over the project and enforce Canadian Law in Canada. However, our politicians just don't think that way so what can you say. Here is what a Canadian law professor thinks about the situation. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7074786.stm
I for one will never again buy a product sold by UE when an alternative is available.
A great teacher gives you answers to questions
you don't even know you should ask.
Post Edited (2007-11-22 11:46)
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2007-11-22 14:12
bill28099 wrote:
> I for one will never again buy a product sold by UE when an
> alternative is available.
Like UE will notice.
I've said before and I'll say it again: If you think something is wrong with the law or some company is restricting legal access, become an activist, financially or otherwise. In the worst case you'll learn something of the vagaries of the legal system.
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Author: MichaelR
Date: 2007-11-23 20:09
bill28099 wrote:
> I have been following this situation for some time and as a
> citizen of Canada I find the actions of UE an affront to the
> sovereignty of my country. The student who owned and managed
> this website just did not have the resources to protect himself
> in court so decided to shut down.
Judging by the notice at the site it's not down forever and other factors contributed to its current down state.
I'd originally wondered if he had contacted the ORC, which I understand to be the Canadian equivalent of the EFF. Instead it seems he sought and received pro-bono legal advice from the university community.
There is also a possibility that Project Gutenberg Canada will take on the site.
It ain't over yet.
--
Michael of Portland, OR
Be Appropriate and Follow Your Curiosity
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Author: rgames
Date: 2008-05-10 15:59
I certainly hope they come back up - that place was an invaluable resource for composers.
I always thought it was too good to be true...
rgames
____________________________
Richard G. Ames
Composer - Arranger - Producer
www.rgamesmusic.com
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