Matthew Caulfield mentions that there was no Federal copyright
protection for music rolls during the 1920s.  That has always been my
understanding too, but I would like to point out a contradicting item
during that period.  Perhaps someone can offer an explanation.

The Imperial Player Roll Company secured copyrights on its rolls until
the firm was purchased by QRS in 1922.  The copyrights were "claimed
on interpretation" for standard rolls and "for editing" on Automatic
Electric (Recordo) rolls.  These copyrights appear to have been allowed
under Section 6 of the Copyright Act of March 4, 1909.  That Section
provided that adaptations, arrangements, "other versions", etc., done
with the permission of the original copyright owner could be "regarded
as new works subject to copyright".

This Section would appear to allow at least some piano rolls to be
copyrighted.  However, Imperial seems to be the only company that took
advantage of it.

Gary Watkins