Why are there so many websites offering classical music free downloads? Isn'!


Question: There are tonnes of websites offering classical music, and allowing you to just download it for free. Isn't it illegal? I do know that if a writer has been dead for 75 years then his works are free to be put on the internet etc., is it the same for composers?


Answers: There are tonnes of websites offering classical music, and allowing you to just download it for free. Isn't it illegal? I do know that if a writer has been dead for 75 years then his works are free to be put on the internet etc., is it the same for composers?
There are two kinds of rights affected. At first there is the copyright, the composer's right on his work (transferred to his successors when he or she dies). In the US (and the EU) the copyright ends 70 years after the composer's death for all of his works. Before that date, every work is protected and may not be copied without permission. So Beethoven is free, and so is Elgar (died 1934), but Prokofiev is not (died 1953).

The other right ist the master right, owned by the musicians who play the music. This is usually managed by the record label and ends 50 years after release date. So if you have a Beethoven download, then the work is free, but the recording may be not.

These are the dates for US and EU, there are huge differences in other countries. Due to steady changes in copyright jurisdiction, it appears that in Russia Beatles recordings are free of all rights. A Russian provider may legally offer Beatles downloads in the Internet, but if you are US citizen you may not legally download them, because in the US the Beatles are copyright protected.
Preeeety much. Classical music is so old that a lot of times it's just out there. Record companies are unlikely to pursue a case because it's not like classical music is a big money maker to them, and it would cost them more money to bother with the courts. The only way you could get in trouble is if a certain musician that played/recorded the piece wanted to pursue, but that's unlikely. I don't think there are copyright laws on stuff like that - because of the age, like you listed.
I dont think that the fact that the composer is dead would 'free' the rights as the record companies still have them. However, there is a good possibility that those companies no longer exist.


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