1. What are public domain songs?
Public domain songs are songs
that are not affected by copyright fees. These are usually songs
that are pre-1923 whose copyrights have expired, or where there has
never been a copyright applied for in the first place. These include
classical songs, hymns, children's songs, old Christmas carols etc.
These songs are called public domain songs and it is these titles
that we use to build our library of public domain sheet music for
you.
2. Can public domain songs
ever be copyright protected?
Yes they can. If you create
your own arrangement of a song that classified in the public domain,
then your "arrangement" can be copyright protected, which means you
have the "copyright" on your arrangement and others would have to
ask your permission to use the arrangement.
3. So are your public
domain songs arrangements of public domain music?
Yes and no. While many of the
songs are in the exact same form as the original composer wrote, we
also need to offer arrangements so that scores can be available in
as easier format or different structure for vocal etc. While the
songs do have our copyright markings and take thousands of hours to
prepare, the purpose of our library is to make these files a
resource for you. (see point 5)
4. How come I see what I
think are public domain songs from publishers, but I have to pay a
price - they are not for free with your membership?
This goes back to question
three.
Public domain songs that are prepared by companies like Hal Leonard
have their own copyright protection as the print copy is their
arrangement and copyright.
Example: Here is a link to
Beautiful Dreamer from our Sheet Music Digital site that is copyright protected from Hal Leonard:
http://www.sheetmusicdigital.com/scorchitem.asp?id=HL00030307&Scorch=Selected
Notice that the arrangement on
the score is by Philip Keveren. So although the song itself is
public domain, Hal Leonard has the copyright for this version.
Here is a link to our score
on My Music School
for Beautiful Dreamer:
http://www.mymusicschool.com/scorchitem.asp?id=GM10000309&Scorch=Selected
You can see the difference in
the arrangements. While this song has our copyright markings, it is
free for you to download and print as that is what our copyright
policy is all about.
5.
So what can I do and not do
with your public domain selections?
The purpose of or public
domain library is to give you access to resources and sheet music titles
in different formats that you can download, print and even edit with
software like Finale and Sibelius.
Although the music has our copyright markings, please feel free to use
them for your own educational, church, organizational or personal use.
The only restriction is
our files cannot be sold or used for commercial purposes such as using
them on your website without first
contacting Sheet Music Digital with your request.
We offer many of the files as a Scorch file, PDF file, Midi file,
XML file and Sibelius.
If you are a teacher, student or music teacher, and you do create an
arrangement from one of our files, or if you have your own scores that
you would like to share with other students, musicians and teachers,
please feel to "upload"
the new file to our site so it can be available for all other
members.
This way, we can create a large and valuable "resource library" of files
that can be shared by everyone.
Files you create and upload will never be sold on our site and you can
even have your own
webpage to display your records!
6. That sounds good. I see
that you have "licensed songs". What is the difference between a copyright
protected songs and public domain song and how come you don't offer
these for free?
Imagine if you were a songwriter and wrote a hit song that was
published. You would get paid for every time someone buys your song.
You and the publisher have what is called a copyright - that is the
right that is given to someone to have a copy your song, for a fee.
There is also copyright fee that goes to the recording artist, the
publisher, the lyricist etc. By illegally offering the music for
free, the musicians and publishers are not getting what they
deserve, a copyright fee. When you buy music from us, all the
copyright fees are looked after using our publishing arrangements
with companies like Hal Leonard Music, Alfred Music Publishers
and many other publishers. Everyone must pay to print these
selections as we have to pay a license fee every time you purchase
and print a song that is copyright protected. These will be songs
that are from current artists and older artists like the Beatles,
big-band selections and most songs that date post 1923.
If you want to purchase licensed sheet music, then go to our other
site Sheet Music Digital at
www.sheetmusicdigital.com.
On this site we have over 40,000 licensed files to purchase. |
