If I perform music that was written by now-deceased composers, could I legally use it in a movie I make?
930884
Moonlight Sonata is a public domain song.  Which means that it can be used by anyone without copyright infringment.  Many of the classical works are public domain, as well as many older recordings.  For a list, visit  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Sound/list\n\n*****EDIT******\nMusic and lyrics written by an American author and published in 1922 or earlier are in the Public Domain in the United States.   No one can claim ownership of a song in the public domain, therefore public domain songs may be used by everyone.   PD songs may be used for profit-making without paying any royalties.  If you create a new version or derivative of a public domain song, you can copyright your version and no one can use it without your permission.  However, the song remains in the public domain, and anyone else can also make and copyright their own version of the same PD song.\n(http://www.pdinfo.com/)\n\nSo basically, you can use the music sheets from any works created before 1922.  AS LONG as you are playing it yourself and not using a recording that someone else made after 1922.  I lost the website just now, but I also read that you can use recordings as long as the artist has been dead for at least 70 years.
537188
Chances are that it'll be illegal if you aqquire the music for free. Don't try it unless you know the artist has allowed the song to be distributed for free over the internet, otherwise you could face legal charges.
1181122
Probably -Someone Else\n\nbut check out the soundtrack on amazon.com. You can hear a sample and you will know. : )
467860
You don't need an attorney to grant permission to use your song.  Just write a letter granting non-exclusive permission for the organization in question to use the song, and specify the nature of how it will be used.\n\nYou should specify in the letter that the material should be credited to you, no changes should be made without your specific permission, and that the use is limited to the specific grant.
1058304
Of course you can.  Many great works of entertainment have been created by partnerships, teams, couples, siblings, etc.  Its better to use your names than a company or corp. that doesn't legally exist yet.
606052
I hope this helps. Good Question!\n\nhttp://www.megalodon.com/music_copyright_info.html
527398
It depends on the use. Under the 'fair use' copyright law it is lawful to use and display copyright material under certain circumstances. \nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use
50007
Based on the way that you worded your question, yes it's illegal.  But based on what it seems like you'd be doing with it, probably not.  If you'd be photocopying it in order to distribute and resell the copies then you'd have some legal issues (unless you paid ASCAP or BMI).  If you're going to make 2 copies for the bass player and the keyboard player, you're probably okay because ASCAP would find it unrewarding to hire an attorney to go after you for the $.50 in royalties that the music represents (although technically it's illegal).
883247
If you have written, photographed, or otherwise documented an idea, you have an author's copyright (it proves ownership of the idea) but this is not secure, so you must file the idea by written document with the Federal Government. You may sell such copyrights to others, as long as you keep up the copyright or if it falls into Public Domain, then anyone can use it. Copyrights include all written materials, books, photographs and recordings so the estate of Elvis Presley or James Mitchner retain the rights to those works....as long as the copyright is kept to date.
1163644
Legally you have to have the artists permission and pay him royalties, a penny or two everytime the song is played! That's also a nice thing to do but not many hollywood studios are doing it but they all cry like baby's when someone downloads their stuff! A little hipocracy? Well those stuffed shirts always think they sh*t don't smell!\n\nhttp://www.total-knowledge.com/~willyblues/
9481
Artists can get royalties, or if they die, thier 'estate' can get the royalties: http://tinyurl.com/7bsmp
934256
doesn't look legal or too illegal to me. I'm not an expert and I only went on the site to answer your question, but you've been on it more (I assume), so you might be able to work it out.or go on a law website or something. I think the site stole the music illegally, but you probably won't get in trouble for using it.
829461
It can be you used copyrighted music. they are getting strict about that
781500
Hi...If you are talking about wanting a karaoke type of version of your already exsisting music and you want to take, say, Dionne Warwick, off of your track - then it is possible.  However, it is only possible if the song was originally recorded (whether on LP. CD, whatever) on more than one track.  In other words, if the vocals are on a separate track already, then there are machines that can separate them but they are expensive and usually only accessible through a high-tech recording studio.  Hope that helped! JF
583574
Yes.\n\nhttp://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/
899906
No. A creative work is "automatically" copyrighted when it is "fixed in a tangible medium."  Thus, when I write this message post, I own the copyright (not counting, of course, the permissions I give Yahoo to modify, delete, or use my words as part of the user agreement).  Similarly, when Cute recorded those recordings, they were automatically copyrighted--but instead of a record label owning them (what usually happens when an artist signs with a label) they themselves own them.  Making an unauthorized copy would violate their copyrights in the work.  Now, since it's unlikely that they've registered the recordings, their damages would be limited to "actual damages" incurred by your copying plus any profits you gained through the use of the recordings.  Since they don't have a label and, as you say, don't intend on releasing the recordings, their "actual damages" would be slim to none, and if you don't use the recordings for profit, your profit would be none.  That doesn't make it legal; that just makes it really not worth it to prosecute.  (This all changes if they have registered the recordings--then they can sue for "statutory damages" just like the big-name record companies.)\nLong and short is that you don't have to have a registration for something to be copyrighted--it happens automatically.  Registration provides additional rights and remedies, but don't assume something's not copyrighted just because it's not released or published.\n(However, you might try to track down the band members or a publicist and just see if they've given permission for the music to be disseminated. Then you'd have an explicit or implied license to download.)
855657
hi avi\ni'm an indian classical musician and love to listen to old music.\nyou may please contact me at-  tarana_savi@yahoo.co.in  and send me your residential address, telephone numbers etc.\ni'll talk to my family members about buying some from you.\nif possible, please send a list of artistes / songs etc. also (only for shastriya sangeet, old hindi film songs.\ni'm aalapti.