COPYRIGHT
OFFICE
PRACTICES
OFFICE
PRACTICES
2-199
Ch. 2.6
2.6.4
2.6.4
2.6.4
New versions of musical compositions.(cont'd)
III.
Revisions or additions(cont'd).
a.
(cont'd)
Examples:
(cont'd)
2.
The addition of a piano accompaniment
to a copyrighted lead sheet3.
A medley of old songs joined together by the interpolation of new music
b.
Minor changes in existing music, such as any musician might readily make, and which are not substantial enough to constitute original composition, do not create a registrable new version.
Examples:
1.
The change of a few notes in the melody of "The star Spangled Banner"
2.
Mere transposition of an old song into a different key
3.
The omission of two measures from an old song
IV.
Editing. Whether editing of a musical composition constitutes registrable "new matter" depends upon its nature and extent. Assuming it is sufficient to constitute creative authorship, editing w11l be regarded as a "writing" registrable in Class E.
IV.
New lyrics. (See also topic 2.6.l.III.a.)
a.
The addition of copyrightable new words to existing music creates a new version registrable in Class E.
[1973]
