Copyrighted creative works, whether they’re books, movies, or music, enter the public domain in the United States after 95 years, meaning they’re free for use by the American public. Winnie The Pooh was first published in 1924, becomes that old and is yours to use or modify! I admit it will be tough to see the pornagraphic uses of Winnie.
What will “Poo Bear” do?
This song was recorded and published in 1923. It was a hit, obviously putting this work in the public domain by several years, I worked backwards from this precursor of jukebox, the Multiphone, which is how I started this search. The dated lyrics are not very “politically correct” these days. Here’s the latest tech of the that time:
I have consolidated and updated this post from older posts of mine:
The concept of the Public Domain all songs before 1926 and on January 1st, 2022 known as Public Domain Day that changes to 1927
I quoted and paraphrased Wikipedia
Pubic Domain consists of all the creative works to which no exclusive intellectual property rights apply. Those rights may have expired, been forfeited, expressly waived, or may be inapplicable.
This means the public owns these works, not an individual author or artist as copyright law dictates. With correct research, anyone can use a public domain work without obtaining permission, but no one can ever own it.
Here are some invaluable tools to understanding and finding Entertainment in the Public Domain:
I found this @ Stanford University
Summed up the research required: There are four common ways that works arrive in the public domain:
The Ten Commandments, directed by Cecil B. DeMille
The Pilgrim, directed by Charlie Chaplin
Our Hospitality, directed by Buster Keaton and John G. Blystone
The Covered Wagon, directed by James Cruze
Scaramouche, directed by Rex Ingram
Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan and the Golden Lion
Agatha Christie, The Murder on the Links
Winston S. Churchill, The World Crisis
e.e. cummings, Tulips and Chimneys
Robert Frost, New Hampshire
Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet
Aldous Huxley, Antic Hay
D.H. Lawrence, Kangaroo
Elmer Rice, The Adding Machine
Bertrand and Dora Russell, The Prospects of Industrial Civilization
Carl Sandberg, Rootabaga Pigeons
Edith Wharton, A Son at the Front
P.G. Wodehouse, works including The Inimitable Jeeves and Leave it to Psmith
These timeless works of art contribute to mankind, and can be republished or used for free by any member of the public.
Holiday songs that ARE in the Public Domain.
Or written before 1926 and yours to use for free!
See the disclaimer below this list.
But the performance by someone done recently would require permission to use in a video or any other use of that performance.
So you will be liable if you post a performance of a public domain song composed after 1925. Although Silent Night was written before 1925 , this is a perfect example of a song performance of a public domain song not being “royality-free” Youtube must pay who ever has the rights for this performance by The Temptations. I suggest using your own version of one of these songs to avoid any copyright hassles.
I found a public domain song I knew and loved “The Devil ts a Mighty Wind.” While listening to versions of “Wayfaring Stranger.” I ran across a folk duo Robin and Linda Williams their version on The Rhythm of Love lp released in 1990. I found a live version on this duo doing this song. Here it is:
Photo by Carl Van Vechten
Finding music in the public domain means listening to plenty of music from the past.. I learned the musicians,whose names change but the message remains the same. Bessie Smith, came into my world when Janis Joplin bought her a headstone, before Janis died of an overdose at 27(seems like the lifespan of the driven. ) Bessie has the voice. This song is gr8. Written by Charles Warfield and Clarence Williams in 1919 and Louie Prima and Frank Sinatra also sang this song. ” I learned a lot studying this song’s past.
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I owe my understanding of recorded music to record collectors. In today’s world, these collections need to be digitized (analog to digital) and posted somewhere. Like this one on YouTube.com. Jazz roots have been recorded, and are now in the public domain starting with the early recordings in the beginning of the 20th century. It was called Jazz when it got to Chicago at the turn of the century.
Perform them! That way it’s yours! Just because the song listed below was in the public domain doesn’t mean you can use a version done by someone else. Here are the songs I found written before 1924, or donated to the public domain. So you can use these songs w/o owing anyone or getting a license to use in your social post, IF you perform them yourself.
With these songs, you will not need a mechanical license.
But the performance by someone done recently would require permission to use in a video or any other use of that performance. So you will be liable if you post a performance of a public domain song composed after 1924. Although Silent Night was written before 1924 , this is a perfect example of a song performance of a public domain song not being “royality-free” Youtube must pay who ever has the rights for this performance by The Temptations. I suggest using your own version of one of these songs to avoid any copyright hassles.
Randy Rainbow owes a lot to Tom Lehrer. Before musical satire was an accepted art form, Tom was a pioneer (this link expires when the site is taken down.) I was surprised at how little has changed. Except for the outfits, music satire hasn’t changed much. Tom has left his music to the public.
Public domain music is very, very significant. It reflects our culture in a nutshell. It requires music collectors/lovers to share these cultural nuggets. We thank them. Music that survives the ages of neglect and competition from modern artists is truly worthy of listening to and sharing. The multi-national corporations compete for your eyeballs and time with their music. Public domain music becomes even more enjoyable as it survives. The “top down” nature of the “music business” makes this “bubble up” of music love even more significant. Any music made before 1924 can be used by you and me with no permission or payments due to anyone.
This song written by Jelly Roll Morton when he was a teenager qualifies as a public domain composition. I found a version performed by Jelly Roll Morton himself, preserved by music fans just read the comments.
I always loved the Stooges. I was surprised to find 3 videos had become public domain thru the not timely copyright renewal route. It seems you can find a lot of FREE videos on YouTube.com
It seems the “Modern Version” which includes the original Curley’s grandson and is the public’s (a PSA about the coronavirus.)
