The band I manage want to use a sound bite from Casablanca as an opening skit to an album track. Casablanca was made in 1942, is it out of copyright and therefore in the public domain?

Out of courtesy I intend to get permission to avoid any problems, the album run will be 1000 copies, plus available for download. We're financing it all ourselves, so no-one is under the illusion it's going to be a million seller [well you never know, how quickly can we get that second run manufactured?] Would any fees be payable to any party? Can someone provide some info on this for me please?

Ta. Rods

Magic Skool Bus 07/09 Koko London With The Bloodhound Gang

Magic Skool Bus 08/09 Temple Bar Music Centre Dublin With The Bloodhound gang

www.magicskoolbus.com

You must remember this...
Play it again Rods

Film copyrights are usually owned by corporations. This means the work is protected for 95 years.

DJones wrote:
Film copyrights are usually owned by corporations. This means the work is protected for 95 years.

OUCH!

strange one this as most industrial music has film samples not cleared,the biggest one is by revolting cocks "beers,steers and queers" that uses the whole rape scene from deliverance.I would speak to musicians union lawyers its free to members and may be worth joining just to find out.

It's 95 years in the US.

In the UK it is "70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the last principal director, author or composer dies.

If the work is of unknown authorship: 70 years from end of the calendar year of creation, or if made available to the public in that time, 70 years from the end of the year the film was first made available."

Belated thanks to all who've offered advice, I'll follow up on it.