Steve Harder brings up a n important point:

> Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 17:56:44 -0600
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> To: automatic-music@foxtail.com
> From: Steve Harder <slharder@iastate.edu>
>
> Subject: Tonneson Piano Roll cutting ??s
>
  [Partial snip.]

> Could someone also offer comments on what is fair game for source
> material.
> I'm not suggesting I'd go to the effort but what is the legality of
> sitting
> down at a MIDI program and 'step-entering' the contents of a QRS roll?
>
> --Steve Harder--    slharder@center.iastate.edu

While I don't know what steps QRS might take to protect their arrangement
of holes in rolls of paper, they (the rolls) qualify as "phonorecords"
under the meaning of current copyright law.  Certainly the Bolcom
compositions I converted to MIDI/piano rolls are under copyright
protection and I took the necessary steps to obtain "mechanical"
(compulsory) reproduction licenses through the Harry Fox Agency, NYC,
before producing or marketing these rolls.  Anyone contemplating similar
activities would be well advised to do likewise for any music which is
not "Public Domain".  Otherwise, make sure your pockets are VERY deep!

-John Grant¶
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"If I can't fix it, it ain't broke."¶
"I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken." -Genius¶
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