1. What are public domain songs?

Public domain songs are songs that are not affected by copyright fees. These are usually songs that are pre-1923 whose copyrights have expired, or where there has never been a copyright applied for in the first place. These include classical songs, hymns, children's songs, old Christmas carols etc. These songs are called public domain songs and it is these titles that we use to build our library of public domain sheet music for you.

2. Can public domain songs ever be copyright protected?

Yes they can. If you create your own arrangement of a song that classified in the public domain, then your "arrangement" can be copyright protected, which means you have the "copyright" on your arrangement and others would have to ask your permission to use the arrangement.

3. So are your public domain songs arrangements of public domain music?

Yes and no. While many of the songs are in the exact same form as the original composer wrote, we also need to offer arrangements so that scores can be available in as easier format or different structure for vocal etc. While the songs do have our copyright markings and take thousands of hours to prepare, the purpose of our library is to make these files a resource for you. (see point 5)

4. How come I see what I think are public domain songs from publishers, but I have to pay a price - they are not for free with your membership?

This goes back to question three. Public domain songs that are prepared by companies like Hal Leonard have their own copyright protection as the print copy is their arrangement and copyright.

Example: Here is a link to Beautiful Dreamer that is copyright protected from Hal Leonard:

http://www.sheetmusicdigital.com/scorchitem.asp?id=HL00030307&Scorch=Selected

Notice that the arrangement on the score is by Philip Keveren. So although the song itself is public domain, Hal Leonard has the copyright for this version.

Here is a link to our score for Beautiful Dreamer:

http://www.sheetmusicdigital.com/scorchitem.asp?id=GM10000309&Scorch=Selected

You can see the difference in the arrangements. While this song has our copyright markings, it is free to download and print for any of our Emerald members - and in a variety of different file types.

5. So what can I do with your public domain selections?

The purpose of or public domain library is to give you access to resources and sheet music titles in different formats that you can download, print and even edit with software like Finale and Sibelius.

Although the music has our copyright markings, please feel free to use them for your own educational, church, organizational or personal use. The only restriction is our files cannot be sold or used for commercial purposes such as using them on your website without first contacting Sheet Music Digital with your request.

We offer many of the files as a Scorch file, PDF file, Midi file, XML file and Sibelius. You can get more information about our file types here. XML files can be imported into later versions of Finale software as well.

If you are a teacher, student or music teacher, and you do create an arrangement from one of our files, or if you have your own scores that you would like to share with other students, musicians and teachers, please feel to "upload" the new file to our site so it can be available for all other members.

This way, we can create a large and valuable "resource library" of files that can be shared by everyone.

Files you create and upload will never be sold on our site and you can even have your own webpage to display your records!
 

6. That sounds good. I see that you have "licensed songs". What is the difference between a copyright protected songs and public domain song and how come you don't offer these for free?

Imagine if you were a songwriter and wrote a hit song that was published. You would get paid for every time someone buys your song. You and the publisher have what is called a copyright - that is the right that is given to someone to have a copy your song, for a fee.

There is also copyright fee that goes to the recording artist, the publisher, the lyricist etc. By illegally offering the music for free, the musicians and publishers are not getting what they deserve, a copyright fee. When you buy music from us, all the copyright fees are looked after using our publishing arrangements with companies like Hal Leonard Music,  Alfred Music Publishers and many other publishers. Everyone must pay to print these selections as we have to pay a license fee every time you purchase and print a song that is copyright protected. These will be songs that are from current artists and older artists like the Beatles, big-band selections and most songs that date post 1923.