IMSLP Forums

I have scores which meet these conditions:
-the composer is undoubtedly PD worldwide,
-the edition was made in the 1950-ties and has insignificant editorial contributions,
-the author of the foreword died in the 1970-ties.

I understand I may not scan the foreword because it is copyrighted. But AFAIK
scientific ideas may not be copyrighted. May I make my own foreword borrowing
information from this copyrighted foreword?

It could contain:
-the source used for this edition,
-the meaning of parenthesized/bracketed/small-type accidentals,
-any useful place or date information etc.

Could be either put into the Misc. Notes: or appended to the scan.

A couple of points:

1. If the edition was made in the 1950s, has a valid copyright notice and was either renewed or restored under GATT/TRIPS, it could be protected in the USA and therefore subject to the notorious [TB] block. You shouldn't waste your time on those.

2. You are perfectly free to write your own preface or forward as long as you do not quote large sections of the existing forward literally. Ideas and concepts cannot be copyrighted, nor can historical facts. A unique expression of such things is subject to copyright.