If the copyright symbol is not clearly identified next to a printed song or on the packaging of a recording, it must be in the public domain and free to use without permission.
INCORRECT
Do not assume a song is in the public domain just because the copyright notice is not apparent. Composers and publishers are required to clearly state which songs are under copyright. However, some composers and publishers do so more clearly than others. Older hymnals placed a notice or acknowledgements section at the front of the book. More recently the trend has been to provide such information directly on the song page or in the back of the book. In individual sheet music for choirs, organs, and other instruments the copyright notice is generally placed on the bottom of the first page of music. Copyrights are frequently indicated by the copyright symbol © or the phrase "used by permission."
CORRECT
Do not assume a song is in the public domain just because the copyright notice is not apparent. Composers and publishers are required to clearly state which songs are under copyright. However, some composers and publishers do so more clearly than others. Older hymnals placed a notice or acknowledgements section at the front of the book. More recently the trend has been to provide such information directly on the song page or in the back of the book. In individual sheet music for choirs, organs, and other instruments the copyright notice is generally placed on the bottom of the first page of music. Copyrights are frequently indicated by the copyright symbol © or the phrase "used by permission."
