Ch. 2.6
2.6.1
2.6.1
2-186
COPYRIGHT
OFFICE
PRACTICES
OFFICE
PRACTICES
2.6.1
What are musical compositions.(cont'd)
II.
Evaluation of musical content.(cont'd)
4.
(cont'd)
Examples:
(cont'd)
(c)
A book explaining a new system of musical notation, illustrated by excerpts from familiar works in the public domain
(d)
A piano instruction chart containing text and diagrams showing notes on the staff and on the piano key board
III.
Evaluation of textual content.
a.
Song lyrics.
1.
The words or lyrics of a song are a component part of the musical composition and may be registered together with the music in published or unpublished form.
2.
The words of a song. without music, are not of themselves a musical composition, and
are not registrable in Class E.(a)
The words of a song, without the music, are not registrable in unpublished form, even if the manuscript indicates that they are to be sung to a well-known melody.
(b)
Words alone may be registered in Class A as a book When published with notice.
3.
The Office prefers that the words of a song be written above or beneath the notes to Which they are sung, but this is not a requirement for registration. A manuscript may be registered in Class E even if the words are on one sheet and the music on another.
[1973]