Paul, at 19:13 on May 25 1995, you wrote to Bill Grimsley...

PE> What is nuts is you (and Bill) saying ABSOLUTE CRAP like
PE> this.  Things don't "fall back" into copyright, once they're
PE> out they're out for good.  50 years after the death of the
PE> author, good-bye copyright. 

BG> Oi, I have never said that!  What I did say (and still believe to 
BG> be true) is that the words and music to the song "Happy Birthday" 
BG> had been copyrighted by two old (English?) ladies, but I still 
BG> don't know whether it 

PE> Yes, this is what I was referring to.

I thought it might have been, but wasn't sure.  Unlike Bob with his books,
the only knowledge I have of copyright relates to musical works, royalties
etc., mainly due to Jack's long-term experiences with same.  And the
lengths to which some people will go to avoid paying them.

Most recent example of this is the current Wheel of Fortune, where his
original theme and incidental music has been rearranged by that big-nosed
sax-playing wanker on Hey Hey (forget his name right now - Wilbur Wild,
that's it!).  When the show resumed in February, Jack's name no longer
appeared in the credits, and had been replaced by "Hotlix Music",
and although he couldn't have cared less, I told him to ring APRA and make
sure that he was still being paid royalties, regardless of the credits.

Turns out that although he still was, what the producers had done was
illegal, so since a few weeks ago, his name has been replaced in the
credits with the notation "Theme music by Jack Grimsley", and
"Music by Hotlix Music".

BG> had ever been subject to copyright prior to their doing so. 

PE> Aha, well that changes it somewhat, there is a *possibility* of that.

Yeah, quite likely, I'd imagine.

BG> feel free to give APRA a call and check it out yourself.

PE> Tell me who APRA is, and I may do just that.

Australian Performing Right Association.  They're responsible for checking
station logging of music use, and payment of royalties, so they know
exactly who holds the copyrights to just about all music ever written. 
Strictly speaking, every time a rock group at the local pub plays somebody
else's song, they are supposed to pay a certain amount in royalties.  Most
don't, whilst others pay an up-front lump sum each year, which covers
projected use of same.  Look upon APRA as Don Chipp's Australian Democrats
of the music industry - they try to keep the bastards honest.

Regards, Bill
@EOT:

--- Msgedsq/2 3.10 alpha