U. S. COPYRIGHT

This is NOT a legal opinion or advice, but is merely general information commonly found in music resources.

Before 1976, U.S. Copyright Law provided, for registered works, copyright for 28 years, renewable for an additional 28 years. Revisions to the law in 1976 provided the term of copyright as the original 28 years plus an additional 47 years (totaling 75 years). Later revisions added 20 years to the term of copyright (totaling 95 years). Newer editions of public domain works may be under copyright, even though the music itself and earlier publications that have fallen into public domain remain in the public domain.

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