From Alex Hern at the Guardian
Vintage recordings may have been published in attempt to extend copyright protection
A mysterious YouTube account that posted, then hid, a collection of 75 rare and unpublished Rolling Stones recordings may have been a canny attempt to avoid EU copyright laws and keep the tracks out of the public domain on the 50th anniversary of their creation.
Shortly before midnight on 31 December, the YouTube account 69RSTRAX posted a collection of recordings including studio out-takes and live performances to its public page on the video-sharing site, with no commentary or explanation. Hours later, on 1 January, again with no warning, the account made all the videos private.
69RSTRAX only joined YouTube on 29 December, and offers no clues as to its identity – save a YouTube-mandated email address, which directs business enquiries to ABKCO, a music publishing company that owns the rights to a substantial chunk of early Rolling Stones recordings.
According to Variety magazine, which first reported the brief publication, the explanation could lie in the European Union’s copyright directive. Under EU law, sound recordings are covered by copyright for the first 50 calendar years after they were made – unless they have been “lawfully communicated to the public”, in which case the copyright term extends a further 20 years.
At the end of 2019, then, ABKCO would have faced a “use it or lose it” conundrum: if it did not publish the tracks it held, it would find it difficult to monetise them in the future, as the copyright for the recordings (though not the compositions) would lapse.
Some publishers, faced with similar issues, have released collections of recordings – of interest to super-fans only – such as the Beatles’ 2013 album Bootleg Recordings 1963. Others, perhaps less eager to share early, unfinished versions of songs with the world, have pushed what it means to “publish” tracks: a Bob Dylan compilation, literally published as “The Copyright Extension Collection, Volume 1”, was also released in 2013 in an edition of 100, and only sold in Europe.
But this would be the first time a label has taken such a minimalist approach to publication. Even while the Stones tracks were available on YouTube, they were reportedly tampered with to make them less appealing to fans who might rip them and share them elsewhere. “The rarest recordings – ie the ones not previously available on bootlegs – have a dial-tone-like sound as loud as the music,” reported Variety’s Jem Aswad, making them “a truly miserable listening experience”.
It remains unclear whether a publication of a single day, on one internet video platform, will be enough to satisfy European judges that the tracks were indeed “lawfully communicated to the public”.
ABKCO declined to comment.
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THE ROLLING STONES Miss You (Limited Edition 1978 UK
2-track 12" single, pressed on Pink Vinyl. Also includes 'Far
Away Eyes', housed in a bevelled cornered top opening
picture sleeve. The delicate sleeve has splits on the left and
bottom sides of the sleeve from ring wear whilst the vinyl is
clean & in Excellent condition, priced advantageously
12EMI2802) ROLLING STONES Solid Rock (1980 UK second issue 15-track
LP manufactured in Holland for the UK & European market
with silver Decca labels, featuring a compilation of Stones
rockers [Slow Rollers, a collection of Stones ballads, was
issued shortly after]. The glossy picture sleevedisplays some
light general wear and the vinyl shows only a little light signs
of play, overall an excellent example TAB1) ROLLING STONES Sticky Fingers (1971 UK 10-track LP, with
'Rolling Stones Records' etched into the run-out and 'A
Promotone N.V. Record' label credit which shows this is an
early vinyl pressing, housed in the classic top-opening & fully
workingbronze finish zipper sleeve [no engraving on zip]
designed by Andy Warhol, complete with the
illustrated/tongue logo credits insert. The sleeve has few of
the usual indentation marks on the back from being packed in
with other zipper sleevesonrelease & shows just light general
wear with a small indentation near the zip and light scuffing,
whilst the vinyl is Excellent with just a few light signs of play
COC59100) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time THE ROLLING STONES The Rolling Stones No. 2 (1975 UK issue
of the 1965 12-track mono LP, on the red 'boxed' Decca label.
The front laminated picture sleeve shows just a little minor
ageing & the vinyl has light signs of cosmetic clouding but still
looks barely played LK4661) THE ROLLING STONES Hackney Diamonds (RS No.9
Carnaby Edition 2023 UK/EU heavyweight Red Vinyl 12-track LP.
Gatefold picture sleeve housed inside an exclusive PVC outer
with 9/Tongue logo artwork andred hype sticker. Long since
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