Today CNN has an article that talks about the UK’s 50-year limitation on copyright. The record companies are apparently up-in-arms over the fact that some of their cash-cow artists, such as the Beatles and Rolling Stones and Elvis are about to begin having their recordings enter the public domain as the 50-year limitation runs out.

Sinatra isn’t mentioned in the article, but clearly his recordings are are among the many great works of music included. In fact, almost half of his catalog is already in the public domain in Europe. This would include all his work with Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, the entire Columbia catalog, and nearly half of all his classic Capitol material, including Songs For Swingin’ Lovers, which recently celebrated its 50 anniversary.
In the United States, where the entertainment industry has greater sway over lawmakers, things are quite different. About a decade ago the term of copyright was extended to an absurd 95-years to protect, of all things, Walt Disney’s copyright on Mickey Mouse.