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----- Original Message ----- From: "Jon Noring" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, August 08, 2003 10:43 PM Subject: [78-l] "Project Gramophone" discussion group started -- do contribute > A few of us have started a private discussion group (mailing list) to > explore the creation of "Project Gramophone". > > Project Gramophone (PGr) is envisioned to be a non-profit organization > to digitally preserve and freely make available (via one or more > online international archives) digitized versions of early sound > recordings which have passed into the Public Domain or whose > performance copyrights have been donated to the archive. Thus, PGr > as presently envisioned will archive sound performances recorded up > through the 1920's or 1930's and sometimes more recently, depending on > various factors (including what we may be able to arrange, as needed, > with song title publishers and even with recording companies.) > > In many ways, PGr will be similar to "Project Gutenberg" for public > domain books. However, because of fundamental differences between > sound recordings and textual content (including transfer and digital > restoration), original source material ownership, and the greater > complexity of copyright (a sound recording can be covered under two or > more copyrights, including the performance, the song title (melody and > lyrics), sometimes the arrangement, etc.), there will undoubtedly be > dissimilarities between Project Gramophone and Project Gutenberg. > > (If Project Gutenberg is interested in associating with this project > in any way, it will certainly be seriously considered.) > > Undoubtedly, there are several problematic issues which need to be > addressed and resolved (and not only copyright). Nevertheless, we > believe there is a "formula" to make Project Gramophone a success, to > greatly benefit the public, as well as benefit those who take a deep > interest in the vintage sounds of yesteryear, including those who > collect and archive the original source recordings. We believe that > Project Gramophone will expose large numbers of new people to the > great sounds of yesteryear (who otherwise would never purchase CDs > of this material, and thus never develop an interest in it), and > introduce many to the hobby of collecting original vintage sound > recordings, discographical research, and so on -- which will benefit > everyone interested in some aspect of early recorded sound, as well > as benefit the public in general by encouraging preservation. > > Note that the name "Project Gramophone" is not etched in stone, and > certainly one area of discussion will be an appropriate name for the > project if the name "Project Gramophone" is deemed unsatisfactory. But > we have to start with something to call it. > > To subscribe to the Project Gramophone discussion group, you can > either subscribe to it directly at Yahoo! Groups (if you have a > Yahoo ID): > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/project-gramophone/ > > or, simply send a blank email message to: > > [log in to unmask] > > > We look forward to your participation in discussion. There is no > implied long-term commitment to this Project for you to participate in > discussion and contribute your ideas, thoughts and criticisms. We need > your special insights to help us come up with a workable "formula" (if > there is one) for Project Gramophone. > > Thanks. > > Jon Noring > Project Gramophone > > ------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, see http://www.78online.com >