[Rumori] Thrift store recordings

[matt davignon]

Also, before I started looking up copyright law, I assumed you had to 
actually file paperwork with the Library of Congress in order to claim 
copyright to something. There's a chance that if someone hears their 
childhood tape in your work, they'll let it go based on that 
misunderstanding.


>From: "The Evolution Control Committee / tradeMark G." <ecc at pobox.com>
>Reply-To: "Detritus discussion list." <rumori at detritus.net>
>To: "Rumor, I" <rumori at detritus.net>
>Subject: Re: [Rumori] Thrift store recordings
>Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2005 12:50:25 -0800
>
>At 02:23 PM 2/16/2005, you wrote:
>
>>I don't know if this subject has been brought out
>>before but are recordings from donated tapes found at
>>thrift shops protected by copyright? If I found a tape
>>that someone donated with sounds of him talking or
>>whatever, could I "release" it as part of a found
>>sound series?  I was considering starting such a
>>series but was uncertain about legalities or
>>illegalities of doing that.
>
>     Having contemplated doing similarly with loads of great material found 
>in the thrift piles, I've mulled over the issues a bit.  As best I 
>understand things, any (any!) recorded material is now -presumed- copyright 
>unless explicitly stated otherwise.  Never mind the fact that it would be 
>impossible for you to locate the "author" of the found work; never mind 
>that the authors themselves gave away the master recordings to the thrift 
>store (and hence, the public).  The author didn't say-so, so it's a no-go.
>
>     Now, let's talk about reality.  How many copies ya gonna press of your 
>proposed compilation?  300?  500?  Maybe even 1,000?  What are the chances 
>any of those will reach someone that got included on it?  Even if it 
>happens, will they care?  I've also thought that the chances of this 
>happening are actually LOWER than random chance, because the type of person 
>who would carelessly donate their answering machine cassette to the thrift 
>store is sociologically not the kind of person that would buy and listen to 
>a CD of found sounds for fun.
>
>     In short, do it bubba.  Compile it, put it out.  Take the 
>infinitesimally minor risk to share your finds and bestow joy upon those 
>who would appreciate such niche entertainment.  I'll buy one!
>
>- TradeMark G.
>
>P.S.:  Anyone in Las Vegas or Kansas City?  Your first chances to see The 
>ECC live are coming up... details at: www.evolution-control.com
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Rumori mailing list
>Rumori at detritus.net
>http://detritus.net/mailman/listinfo/rumori
>older archives: http://detritus.net/contact/rumori/