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Trying to Determine Rights in Pre-1972 Sound Recordings

Audio recordings of speech, musical instruments or any other sounds created before Feb. 15, 1972, are treated very differently from other recorded sounds under U.S. law. Each of the 50 states is free to apply its own rules to the protection of audio sound recordings made before Feb. 15, 1972, and may continue to do so for the next 54 years. As a consequence, the scope of protection for pre-1972 sound recordings is inconsistent from state to state, often vague and sometimes difficult to discern.

20 minute read November 01, 2013 at 03:22 PM
By
Michael I. Rudell And Neil J. Rosini
Trying to Determine Rights in Pre-1972 Sound Recordings

Audio recordings of speech, musical instruments or any other sounds created before Feb. 15, 1972, are treated very differently from other recorded sounds under U.S. law.

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