Don Maslin/Archiving system software (was: ftp archives disappearing?)

[Chuck Guzis]

On 18 Mar 2007 at 16:21, Bill Pechter wrote:

> One of the differences between old violins and old computers is the Violin
> software (music) is free.

Ever try renting an orchestra score?  It's not cheap--and even the 
things that are public domain are usually available as rental-only.

If you want to rent something really current (like 40 years old), say 
the books for "West Side Story", be prepared to have cash and 
estimated attendance figures ready.

You'd be surprised how little music is "free".  Even works that were 
written 150 years ago are often available only in newer (read: 
copyrighted) editions.

Anent this business of free music, I note that RIAA is now going 
after web sites with unlicensed fake books.  Copyright is copyright--
and there's no such notion as "abandonware" in music.  If a work is 
P.O.P., you're out of luck--you'd better not get caught copying 
someone else's copy.   Music also has an interesting twist that 
software has--attendant rights such as performance, mechanical 
reproduction, arrangement, etc.  Just because you bought the sheet 
music legally doesn't mean you can perform it in public.

Cheers,
Chuck