Google samples Munch, Free?
Posted on 12 December 2006
I wonder if Google pays any $ for modifying Edvard Munch’s work?
After all, isn’t this comparable to sampling copyrighted sound clips into a hip-hop song? This is one of only two times that I’ve seen Google modify a pre-existing work as its logo, here’s the other one (Vincent Van Gogh day):
If Google hasn’t paid for rights to these works…
Is this a gold mine waiting to be tapped?
Anyone versed in this area?
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December 12th, 2006 at 5:28 pm
I think this basically is a question about copyright law. How long does copyright protection last? Well, it depends on what exactly is being copyrighted and whether or not it is published or unpublished. Here is a link that might interest you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright#How_long_copyright_lasts
For works of art and literature, U.S. law protects the work for either 50 or 70 years after the creator’s death. Do you remember a few years back when Disney had to make an appeal to extend the Mickey Mouse copyright? If Mickey Mouse entered the public domain, then anybody could plaster Mickey Mouse on their goods without having to pay any royalties! Well Disney wasn’t going to let that happen so they flexed their corporate muscle and got the copyright extended.
This might also interest you:
http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/scores/top
Every book you see listed there is in the public domain, which means you can download it and do whatever you want with it. Heck, you can even print these books out in your garage and sell it to people on the street if you wanted. You can find Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, William Shakespeare, and a whole bunch of other classics.
In the case of Munch, I think the copyright is basically freed up by now. I have a poster on my cube that depicts Homer Simpson in Munch’s “Scream”.
December 12th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
This might shock some people:
http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/scores/top#authors-last30
Free books! Get your free books!
December 12th, 2006 at 5:43 pm
Nice work Kevin! I guess I was just a bit skeptical after Google’s negligent mishap earlier this week.. :p