Page:Compendium of US Copyright Office Practices (1973).pdf/33

2.6.1

What are musical compostions.(cont'd)

II.

Evaluation of musical Content.(cont'd)

c.

(Cont'd)

1.

A musical score having no element of original composition (e.g., a group of diatonic and chromatic scales for beginning students) is not registrable unless compilation is present. (See topics 2.6.1.IV.c, 2.6.4.VI.)

2.

A phrase consisting of a few musical notes(e.g., the NBC signature; clock chimes), standing alone, would not have sufficient substance to constitute a composition.

3.

To be registrable in Class I, it is not necessary that all of the underlying musical

themes in the composition be original. Variations, popular adaptations, arrangements,and other versions or public domain themes (or of copyrighted themes when permission to use has bean secured) may be registered as new works of authorship. (See topic 2.6.4.)

Examples:

(a)

Variations on a theme by Paganini

(b)

A symphonic arrangement of "Yankee Doodle"

(c)

A popular song based on a theme from Chopin "Fantasie Impromptu"

4.

A work consisting chiefly of text or pictorial matter, although it deals with the subject of music and contains incidental fragments of musical scores, is not registrable in Class I.

Examples:

(a)

A book on some musical subject, with brief musical quotations to illustrate the text

(b)

An advertising print containing a few bars of music to convey the idea of music

[1973]