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JibJab Wins - 'This Land' is Public Domain

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the well-that-was-easy dept.

The Importance of writes "JibJab, creators of the hilarious parody of Woody Guthrie's 'This Land is Your Land' featuring Pres. Bush and Sen. Kerry, were first threatened with a lawsuit and then, with the help of EFF, went to court first in a pre-emptive strike. Well, EFF discovered that the song has actually been in the public domain since 1973 because it was first published in a songbook [PDF] in 1945 and the copyright was never renewed. The case has now been settled. Here are some addtional links."

2 of 628 comments (clear)

  1. This net is my net. by NoSuchGuy · · Score: 0, Redundant

    This net is your net.
    This net was made for you and me. ... ...

    --
    Grundgesetz * 23. Mai 1949 - 30. November 2007 - http://www.vorratsdatenspeicherung.de/
  2. Kinda moot, parodies/satire are fair game. by DroopyStonx · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Case in point, Weird Al. He doesn't have to get permission to make a parody of someone's song.

    It would've been dismissed either way regardless of whether or not the song was public domain.

    --
    We have secretly replaced these Slashdot mods' sense of humor with a rusty nail. Let's see if they notice!!