JASRAC = Japan, saying that 337 songs such as "Summertime" among the works of American composer George Garshwin, who had become a "public domain" that could be freely used in Japan, were confirmed to be joint works with his brother. The Music Copyright Association has announced that it will resume copyright management from January next year.
American composer George Gershwin is an American composer who has been active in operas, musicals and classical music, and his songs are covered by many artists and are popular all over the world.
Gershwin died in 1937 at the young age of 38, and in Japan, the copyright protection period expired in May 1998, and all songs were in the "public domain."
However, according to JASRAC, 337 of these songs were confirmed to be joint works with his brother and lyricist Ira Gershwin by the materials submitted by the American copyright management organization, and as a result, the copyright in Japan The protection period started in 1983, when his brother died.
Among the 337 songs, "Summertime" and "Someone to Watch Over Me", which are popular as jazz standard numbers, are included.
According to JASRAC, "It is extremely rare for such a famous composer to resume copyright management of songs that were once in the public domain."
Copyright management will resume from January 1st next year and will continue until at least 2053, which means that you will have to pay the royalties when performing at concerts or making CDs.