Matthew Deleget, Information & Research, NYFA with special guest John Palattella, Research Assistant, NYFA Source, courtesy of New York Foundation for the Arts
Have you ever heard the classic George Harrison song, “My Sweet Lord”? It goes something like: “I really want to see you / Really want to be with you / Hallelujah / Hare Krishna. . . .” In 1976, United States District Court Judge Richard Owen, arguing that Harrison had heard the song’s melody in someone else’s song long before having written his own, ruled that Harrison was guilty of copyright infringement. Although not deliberate on Harrison’s part, his song too closely paralleled the Chiffons’ “He’s So Fine,” a #1 hit in the US for five weeks during the summer of 1963.
The case raises an important question: How much can you draw on the work of others when you start your next project? In this issue’s installment, Dr. Art discusses the history and parameters of copyright, as well as its fair use in appropriation and parody.
Copyright Basics more...
