RE: songs in the public domain

I have attempted to address this issue in connection with a "Digital Music Library" project supported by the National Science Foundation. Go to this website:
http://www.dml.indiana.edu/legal/index.html <http://www.dml.indiana.edu/legal/index.html>  

Take a look at the paper about the public domain. The issue is vastly more complex than it should be, and I welcome any comments. All the best,  

Kenny Crews
Indiana University
www.iupui.edu/~copyinfo <http://www.iupui.edu/~copyinfo>    

-----Original Message-----
From: Opera4[_at_]aol.com [mailto:Opera4[_at_]aol.com] Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2001 9:11 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: songs in the public domain  

How do I know when a song is in the public domain? Does the 70 year rule always apply? What about editions of public domain songs...such as in a song collection... can you use them for academic documents such as dissertations and thesis papers? How about songs originating outside of the USA? Where can I go to get straight answers? I have contacted some publishing houses and received no replies. Received on Fri Dec 21 2001 - 21:02:01 GMT