Re: copyright holder of "Birds" by Hitchcock

On 3/16/00, Joy O'Shell <joshell[_at_]kentlaw.edu> wrote:
>
> On Tue, 14 Mar 2000, Robert Cumbow <rcumbow[_at_]grahamdunn.com> wrote:
> >
> > On Mon, Mar 13, 2000, Rika Soopa <rika[_at_]kontuur.ee> wrote:
> > >
> > > Could you help me with the problem how to find out who is the
> > > copyright holder of the movie "The Birds" by Hitchcock, 1963.
> >
> > In the United States, copyright in a motion picture is held by the
> > studio that produced the film ...
>
> Would you also say that the copyrights to vintage radio transcriptions
> (commissioned musical phonograph recordings) produced by studios in
> the 1930's-1940's are held by the studio that produced the sound
> recordings? What if these studios are no longer in business and the
> radio transcriptions are abandoned? Who owns the right to reproduce
> those old master sound recordings?

     Nix, nyet, usually a more complicated question. Different trade customs respecting the contracts. Also copyright distinctions, questions regarding who owns the physical master as compared to the copyright in the tune and in the performance, etc. Really would have to be more specific to even try a general answer. Are you referring to the "incidental" music for dramatic shows or to, say, the Bob Wills recordings made for the Playboy Bread Co.?

                          James

James Rogers
<jetan[_at_]ionet.net> Received on Fri Mar 17 2000 - 11:15:01 GMT