I am confused about the copyright of non-recorded musical products.

The following doubts concern modern music, copyrighted by living authors with scores bought legally but downloaded and printed at home in a single copy that carries a footnote "To be used by -my name here-" as is the use with the Musicnotes site.

Does anybody know the answers to these questions (or could comment about this issue):

- If I buy a downloadable score from a serious site (for example Musicnotes.com), do I have the right to play that music personally at school? or personally in front of a more general public for free? or play it personally for a profit (charging for a ticket)?

- If the score contains several parts (say, two flutes) and the answer to the first question is basically "yes", can I use my single copy for both players (both reading from that same copy) or are we obliged to buy two copies?

- More generally, to what rights do am I entitled when purchasing a score, in printed or downloadable editions?

Thanks a lot!

<Added>

OOPS!
to what rights do am I entitled = to what rights am I entitled

I am NOT a lawyer, but as I understand what you have here are some answers - -
Because of the footnote - -

- Yes, you can play the music personally all you want,at home, at school, etc. You can even record the music and play it on your MP3, or play it for your friends, at a party, etc. Normally it stops at doing anything for free. It often stops when you begin to charge money, or if you play it in a store where people buying things can hear it.

In your case, I believe purchasing the score allows you to charge for tickets without having to pay royalties. Just like when you purchase or rent a musical score. The anticipated royalties are included in the purchae price.

- If their are multiple parts you only have to buy one copy, if you all read off the same piece of music. If you play off different stands then you need to purchase another copy.

- Generally, you are entitle to use the scores you purchase as you wish. If you are going to charge admission then it depands on what the 'footnotes' say or wht the site says when you purchase it. If you make copies for others to read, you need to purchase another copy (some sites/composers just say send another $1 for each copy you make).

If you are going to record the piece on a CD for sale you should contact the composer, or seller. If it is an unknown composer they probably will just want the CD info and no money just so they know it is recorded. They like to know their music is being performed.

Generally you can NOT play the music while at work; not for the customers to hear or the other employees. If it is helping to generate monies by either putting the customers in a good mood or relaxed mood; or to put the employees in a better mood to work better together then you can't do it. [[ **note** that this is a technicality. Technically you can't do it. But I know of many restaurants and bars who have music in the kitchen keeping the employees happy and motivated.]]

Well, youtube is no good example of copyright compliance and I believe that many, many videos there are not legally uploaded, but just tolerated because of sheer big numbers involved and sometimes because they are free promotions of something or someone.

Here we have a very strong (and I would say, a little abusive) private society that enforces copyrights and I now a case (have a friend there) where the society's inspectors stormed a theatre during a rehearsal because of suspicions of illegal use of copyrighted scores. Everybody finished at the police station and the theatre company had to go trial (which the theatre company won).

They also go to weddings, (in most cases for allegedly public use of recorded music), to hairdressing shops, gymnasiums, everywhere. So have they triggered a paranoia that is doing no good to anybody.

My question is basically for my enlightenment and curiosity, I am not planning any commercial CD or concert (wish I could...). But I am starting to play in public at school and weddings and the like. When it comes to authors like Paul Simon and others, this falls clearly within the cases this abusing composers society is aiming at. I want to comply with copyright issues, but I want to have it clear.

That is strict indeed. :O

Don't the websites where you download the music from have copyright information somewhere? I would assume that there should be detailed information somwhere on the sites. If not, maybe send them an e-mail and ask? And I really wonder what happens when the regulations differ between different countries? Or are these web-sites only operating in specific regions?

Musicnotes.com is based in Madison, WI 53717, USA. They say they comply with the the US copyright law.

Whether this is valid also in Europe or what differences there may be is a big mystery. Is like buying a score in New York and bringing it to Spain and try to use it. They know I am in Spain, it shows at the bottom of their WEB page and they accepted my purchase.

Well, there are differences in copyright and intellectual property right between USA and Europe... I guess you would have to ask a lawyer if you really want to find out how to handle the situations you describe correctly.

It is not so important...