Music in the Public Domain

Published or copyrighted sheet music from before 1923 is now public domain in the United States. The musical composition may be public domain, but what about an old recording of it?

Using an old recording is very tricky, since no Federal copyright for recordings existed before 1972, and state law governed the copyright on music recordings. Simply determining which state's laws apply to the particular recording you want to use is a big project.

This information is provided with the understanding that the author is not a lawyer and is not engaged in rendering legal services, and makes no warranties or claims as to the accuracy or completeness of the information. This is a summary and for brevity many exceptions to the principles outlined have been left out. When working with legal issues, you should always seek experienced professional counsel.

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