I am not a copyright expert, so, in very simple language, what Play-Rite
claims a copyright on is their copy of a Wurlitzer roll.

For example, if you take a photograph of the Mona Lisa, then you own
your photograph copyright but not the original Mona Lisa.  Play-Rite
owns their "photograph" of the original but not the original roll.

Perhaps some of you may remember the lawsuit days in the 1970s between
John Malone (Play-Rite) and Harold Powell (Klavier).  I think most of
this was covered in an AMICA bulletin years ago.

Don Teach

P.S.: The Seeburg E sold five times!

 [ John Malone (Play-Rite) was recutting Ampico rolls.  The story he
 [ tells is that Harold Powell claimed copyright of Ampico music rolls
 [ and he filed suit against Malone for infringing upon his copyright
 [ and undermining his Klavier business of producing Ampico rolls.
 [
 [ The suit was dismissed because Powell could not prove to the
 [ satisfaction of the court that he held a valid copyright on the
 [ music (musical performances) of the Ampico music rolls, and
 [ therefore there was no grounds for the lawsuit.  (Powell owned
 [ Ampico perforators and master rolls and goodwill purchased
 [ previously from Larry Givens.)  -- Robbie