BL> The basis of copyright is originality; not
BL> whether copyright has been claimed previously.

BG> I really should look into this. I mentioned it some months ago,
BG> but never followed it through. I do know that there was a bit of
BG> a stink about these two old cows demanding royalties from movies
BG> and TV shows where that song had been sung though. Got a bit of
BG> publicity too, but I don't remember much about it.

BL> It may be that the song was copyrighted, and the copyright
BL> was inherited. It gets convoluted if the owner sells copyright
BL> to a company which then goes bankrupt and someone else buys
BL> the company assets. This makes the 50-year limit arguable.

BG> I don't even know for sure if musical works come under the same
BG> (or similar) classifications as books or written works, but I'd
BG> imagine so.  I do know that his copyrights will be inherited by me,
BG> but I don't think that my own heirs have any claim on them if I die.
BG> I am only speaking from hearsay, so don't take that as being read.

It sounds pretty garbled. Yes, you can inherit it for some time after
the death of the author. That eventually expires. Its got nothing to do
with your death at all and the royaltys can continue on to who ever you
care to pass them on to, until the copyright expires on the time limit.

--- PQWK202