Free public domain sheet music from IMSLP / Petrucci Music Library

This page is designed for users with Copyright Review Privileges. This page describes the procedure and the guideline to be followed in the process of file tagging.

Procedure

Copyright reviewers are expected to do a reasonable amount of lookup into a publication's background.

The tag procedure can be started by clicking on the copyright status link of a file. Follow directions described on that page and the consensus guideline described below. It is important to remember that V or C will release the file for access to visitors. In non-standard cases, provide arguments for your tag in the comments box. In any doubt, tag for copyright review (N/N/N), making the file unavailable.

Tags can be listed using the Special:IMSLPTagFinder///////.

Guideline

Wait a minimum of 1 hour before tagging any new uploads of a fellow CR, as a general rule.

Scans

Copyright terms fall into three general categories: a) life-plus-50 (50pma), b) life-plus-70 (70pma), and c) publication date-plus-term. The US law applies category "c" for all works published before 1978, while most other countries employ "a" or "b" for most works, reserving "c" for special cases (like urtext editions). IMSLP accordingly employs a three-tiered tagging system for copyright status: a) Canada (where IMSLP is hosted) and the 50pma countries, b) USA (where most visitors to IMSLP are located), and c) the EU and other 70pma countries.

1. Identify publication data

• Elementary data pertain to composers, orchestrators, arrangers or transcribers, and editors. In all cases except editors of urtext publications, the death date of all creators is essential in determining copyright status for most countries.
• Date and place of publication, along with all associated publisher info, are important - especially for determining status in the US.
• Try to identify country of origin, based on nationality of the author and place of first publication.
• What is the extent and originality of editorial contributions? Is the edition under consideration a critical or urtext edition?
• Is this edition a posthumous first publication? If so, the date of publication is very important.

2. Look up the copyright term in country of origin

The country of origin is determined, depending on local legislation, on the nationality of the author, or the place(s) of first publication. Country-specific information can be found in the Public Domain section, alomg with specific guidelines for determining whether a given edition is of an urtext or interpretative nature. Follow this guideline for country-specific legislation:

• Urtext or Critical editions

UK, Germany: 25y, Italy: 20y, Other EU countries: 25y from publication.

(Note: the EU copyright 93/98 directive itself permits a term of no greater than 30 years, but does not mandate such a term.)

• Publications from the Soviet era in Czech, Hungary, Poland (up through 1989):
  • Original works, orchestrations, arrangements or editions with significant original editorial contribution: 70y p.m.a.
  • Urtext or Critical editions: 25y from publication
  • No editor given: PD ? - check to see if it's part of a collection or series
• Publications from the former USSR (up through 1991):
  • Original works, orchestrations, arrangements or editions with significant original editorial contribution: 70y p.m.a.,

Note: Unless the author died before 1953, in which case PD.

• • Urtext or Critical editions: PD
  • No editor given: PD ? - check to see if it's part of a collection or series

3. Look up the copyright terms in other countries

• Canada: follows the shortest term. The country of origin is here based solely on the nationality of the author.
• EU:

• Works published outside the EU: follows the rule of shorter term, except if bilateral treaties exist (see them here).
• Works published in countries of the EU: the EU Copyright Directive needs to be followed!

• US: works that are in public domain in the country of origin on the date of TRIPS entry (*see these entry dates here), and published without compliance with US formalities, are in public domain in the U.S. Urtext works are no exception - if they're reprinted in the USA, it's safe to assume they're public domain. Ex-Soviet publishers generally failed to file copyright in the USA. If unsure, tag U*.

Typesets

1. Typesets are computer re-engravings of certain editions. The work that has been re-engraved should be in public domain too. In most cases, you will not need to identify the source publication. This is not a big problem, as the responsibility lies with the typesetter. In some cases the typeset is a new or a critical edition made by the typesetter.
2. Look for the name of typesetter. Is there one on the score? Is it the uploader? Contact them, and invite them to make theirself public on their user page. 99% of the typesetters are active on Mutopia or WIMA.
3. Typesets are for practical purposes regarded as new editions, even if there is no editorial addition by the typesetter. The typesetter should therefore be listed as the editor, even if it is merely a re-engraving of an older edition. By virtue of the fact that the music was enetered into a computer notation program, the person doing it becomes an editor since it is impossible to exactly duplicate a plate engraving with notational programs like Finale, Sibelius, Lilypond, and others.
4. If the typeset originated at Mutopia or a similar site, that site should be listed as publisher, since making a file available for distribution - even if at no charge - constitutes "publication" according to the legal definition of the term in many countries, including Canada and the USA. Otherwise, the typesetter/editor should be listed as publisher.
5. If details are known, and the typesetter grants permission to distribute his scores, tag N!/N!/N!
6. If nothing is known, you can tag C/C/C, releasing the file on the website. The typesetter can always id himself and ask for removal of the file. The exception to this rule is for files which originally come from WIMA, who generally opposes re-distribution of typesets from their site.

Members and Further Questions

Please direct questions related to copyright review to the Project Leaders: Carolus, Peter.
Members of the team are listed here.
The test is located here.