Re: MIDI sequencing -- copyrightable??

On Thu, 25 May 2000, Mark Charette <charette[_at_]sneezy.org> wrote:
>
> On Wed, 24 May 2000, Timothy Phillips <hrothgar[_at_]telepath.com> wrote:
> >
> > So, for example, a MIDI sequence of a public domain melody,
> > incorporating no original music whatsoever, would on this
> > interpretation be in the public domain, just as a printed sheet
> > of the same music would be: the MIDI sequencing doesn't in and
> > of itself confer originality.
>
> A common misconception; the music (the notes) may be public domain,
> but the printed expression of the music (typography, layout, etc.)
> may be copyrightable.

In the U.S. we have no copyright in typeface or utilitarian layout. If a MIDI sequence of a melody (say "Old 100th") were converted to staff notation, and the result would be uncopyrightable, then as far as I'm concerned the MIDI sequence should be uncopyrightable.

A MIDI sequence might contain public domain and copyrightable information together, e.g. Old 100th with oiginal harmonization. In such a case, one could still reverse-engineer the sequence to extract the public-domain component--in this case, the melody.

Tim Phillips
<hrothgar[_at_]telepath.com> Received on Fri May 26 2000 - 12:06:25 GMT