Thanks to Ben Crowell and David Gonzalez for useful links to online
libraries - it looks as if a fair amount of out-of-copyright music is
scanned and available on the web.
One concern I do have is that these libraries may use license terms which
prevent us from using their material.
Let me quote extracts from the "Copyright, use, and reproduction policy"
of Duke University's Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections
Library (http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/specoll/copyright.html):
"Reproductions of material from the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special
Collections Library may be made only for use in the research, teaching, or
private study of the recipient of the reproduction. They may not be made
for or donated to other repositories by the recipient. They may not be
further reproduced without permission."
Obviously this clause makes the scans non-free. I don't know if they
can enforce it for the public domain material which Mutopia would use.
Copyright law wouldn't help them but maybe they could do us for trespass
for accessing the material without agreeing to the licence, or something.
Obviously if there's any shadow of a legal doubt then Mutopia must steer
clear; we can't afford any legal challenges which aren't summarily
dismissed.
Can the FSF comment on the legality of such licence clauses for public
domain material?
Many thanks,
David
