Copyright
Hi,
Just wondering about any implications regarding copyright.
Can I, legally, take an existing copyrighted piece of sheet music and enter it into Musescore for personal use?
Can I share that same Musescore file by uploading it via Musescore Connect to share it with others?
Thanks.
Neil.
Comments
The answer is that it depends.
Copyright law is different in different countries. Some having a fair use clause which your personal use case would be covered by, others (including the UK) do not.
It also depends on whether the composer's (or arranger) work has entered the public domain -again this varies from country to country - in Canada it is 50 years after the composer's death - in the UK it is 70 years after the composer's death. If that is the case then a transcription to MuseScore would not be in breach of the publisher's copyright of the printed edition, but you may be in breach of the editor's copyright if you include fingering and other editorial additions.
Sharing on MuseScore.com would definitely be in breach of any copyright still in copyright control of any kind.
HTH
Michael
In reply to The answer is that it by ChurchOrganist
ChurchOrganist posted:
Sharing on MuseScore.com would definitely be in breach of any copyright still in copyright control of any kind.
Then why is there so many pieces from John Williams (famous Hollywood composer) just to name one? Why does the site not take down any of those files?. Thank you for your advice on copyright again
In reply to Copyrighted material by RonJackendoff2
MuseScore operates under the DMCA law and it clearly states in the community guidelines that one should not make any work publicly available when the required rights to do so have not been cleared. Right holders can file copyright infringement complaints by following the instructions at http://musescore.com/legal/dmca