Are Radio Sound recordings before 1945 Public Domain?
Very few American sound recordings are in the public domain – going back to the earliest days of sound recordings. Sound recordings made before February 15, 1972, are covered by state statutory copyright and state common law copyright. Those state laws typically have no duration limit for the copyright term. On Feb. 15, 2067, all sound recordings made before Feb. 15, 1972 will enter the public domain in America. Sound recordings made after Feb. 15, 1972 are covered by federal copyright law. The earliest the copyrights will expire on those is in 2043, and not in any substantial number until 2048. The three exceptions: (1) Sound recordings made by the federal government; (2) sound recordings whose owners have intentionally placed them in the public domain; and (3) sound recordings published from Feb. 15, 1972 through 1977 without a proper copyright notice on the recording or its cover.
