Smokey the Bear Question

   A parent visited the Smokey the Bear Museum and brought back a sheet she had been given there that has the words and music to the song Smokey the Bear. She wanted to xerox copies and give them to one class of first graders. It says at the bottom of the page. This song was written under license of the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture to Hill & Range Songs., and recorded, under license by RCA-Victor, Columbia, Decca, Peter Pan, & Golden Records. Copyright 1952 by Hill & Range Songs, Inc. New York, N. Y. International copyright secured. All rights reserved including the right of public performance for profit.

     If the museum was giving away copies, would it be legal to make a copy from it? How would we go about getting permission to make copies? I was under the impression that Smokey the Bear was public domain. Any help for the confused teacher would be appreciated.

Cindy Whisennand
cwhiz[_at_]tenet.edu Received on Wed Mar 20 1996 - 03:41:32 GMT