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A mysterious YouTube account that posted, then hid, a collection of 75 rare and unpublished Rolling Stones recordings may have been a canny attempt to avoid EU copyright laws and keep the tracks out of the public domain on the 50th anniversary of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.
Collecting original, vintage, rare and out of print Rolling Stones Vinyl, CDs & Memorabilia?
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ROLLING STONES Some Girls (1989 UK issue of the 1978
10-track LP, housed in a redesigned non die-cut picture
sleeve with picture insert. The sleeve shows some minor wear
and the vinyl has only light signs of play) ROLLING STONES Dirty Work (1986 UK 10-track viinyl LP, the
eighteenth album by the British rock group including the
singles Harlem Shuffle & One Hit [To the Body], housed within
the glossy picture sleeve with illustrated lyric card inner. This
copy also retains its original hype-stickered red shrinkwrap.
The shrink has a few small splits along the spine, the sleeve
shows little wear and the vinyl has just the odd light sign of
play) ROLLING STONES Slow Rollers - Ex (1981 UK 14-track
compilation LP, issued as part of the 'Rock Echoes' series. The
glossy picture sleeve displays some minor wear and
discolouring and the vinyl shows little sign of play TAB30) ROLLING STONES Going To A Go Go (1982 Dutch 12" vinyl
single, also including Beast Of Burden, both recorded live on
their 1981 US tour. The glossy picture sleeve displays a little
edge & corner wear, whilst the vinyl looks barely played
1C052Z64820) ROLLING STONES Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! (2009 US issue 40th
Anniversary Collectors Super Deluxe Edition Multi-Format set
comprised of a 27-track triple LP pressed on 180gram Audiophile
Quality virgin vinyl featuring the original 1970 albumrecorded live at
Baltimore's Civic Center on 26th November 1969 and New York's
Madison Square Garden on 27th & 28th November 1969; five
previously unreleased recordings from MSG and twelve previously
unreleased tracks from supporting artists BBKing and Ike & Tina
Turner. If that isn't enough, the final side of the third disc is etched
with the iconic album artwork and replica signatures. The same audio
content is also featured on three CDs, with a Region 1 NTSC DVD
containing live & backstage footage from Madison Square Garden,
scenes of Keith Richards in the studio and footage of the album cover
shoot. The 12.5" x 12.5" two-piece picture box does display a little
shelfwear splitting to the bottom edge of the bottom half of the box
however, the hype-stickered shrinkwrap remains sealed and
all contents remain 'AS NEW' complete with the 56-page collectors
book and a 1969 tour poster postcard!)EIL.COM Favourite Music Update Rare CDs, CD Singles, Rare Records, Vinyl Records, Albums and Music
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