Comments on: Pink Floyd kids want royalties

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 20 Feb 2005 17:41:21 +0000

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Wed, 01 Dec 2004 01:21:21 +0000

Actually, US copyright terms have nothing to do with it, since the recording was made in the UK and the lawsuit was filed in the UK. From what I understand, UK copyright terms last 50 years, which is why there is a frenzy to get the UK terms extended before too many Elvis tunes hit the public domain over there.

Also, for the sake of clarity, US copyright terms last until 70 years past the death of the author/artist, or 95 years if the copyright owner is a corporation.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Tue, 30 Nov 2004 00:22:12 +0000

50 years? hahaha… yeah, that might’ve been the law, in the 1920s.. but when good ol’ Mickey Mouse was fast approaching 50, good ol’ U. S. of A bumped it up. and again. and again. i think currently, its at 150 years past death of artists (so could be 200+ years), and i bet when mickey mouse is about to turn 200 years old, the law will be modified once again.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 09:30:30 +0000

Then again if there is no contract the label did not have the right to use the voices of the “23 then teenagers” in their product. Because they did not procure the rights to the performance.

Copyright is not transferred to companies automagically. Without contract, the original performer, even if unknown or under an assumed name still has the rights.

And that is why there even is a case.

And, as a corollary, I guess it’s okay to share these songs since only the legal owner can sue someone for breach of copyright and it looks like they do not have the rights to the songs featuring these kids.

As for the time delay, I believe copyright expires in like 50 years or so?

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 05:46:37 +0000

That’s exactly it. IF there was a contract. My hunch is: There was none… I can not imagine ASCAP, (or whomever handles the royalties distribution), screwing anyone out of anything…. There is also the question of WHY so many years have passed before making the stink about royalties!

I’m SURE Roger Waters will pay out of his own pocket, being the socially aware person he is….. I bet there is more to this story……

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 27 Nov 2004 22:26:25 +0000

If the kid’s contract says they get royalties, THEY GET ROYALTIES.