Copyright question

[Jan Birney <stmark6614@YAHOO.COM>]

Is the song, "God Bless America" in the public domain?
It is my understanding that a song is placed in the
public domain 70 years after the death of its owner
(composer). Did Irving Berlin sign away the rights to
his song before he died? Has everyone been breaking
copyright law during the past two weeks by singing and
playing "God Bless America" in public places?
I mean no disrespect in asking this question--I just
want to understand one aspect of public domain,
copyright, and public performance.
Jan Birney

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Jan Birney, Library Media Specialist
Jockey Hollow Middle School
Monroe, Connecticut 06468
stmark6614@yahoo.com

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