The international musical library was closed

The international musical library (IMSLP) in which access to musical partitas was given to Internet users has stopped the existence. The on-line resource has been closed after the owner of a site has received the second letter from the Viennese company Universal Edition a classical musical literature engaged by the edition with the requirement to stop infringement of a copyright.

The international musical library enjoied the big popularity at students, teachers and musicians of all world. The resource has been created by the pupil of college who disappears under anybody Feldmahler. According to the young man, it has counted, that access to culture and art is a fundamental right of each person, instead of the privilege. Also has laid out on a site of library of the partita of pieces of music, to use with which free of charge any interested person could.

All work on start of a site and gathering of partitas Feldmahler carried out independently. It has spent for creation of the International musical library a lot of time, forces and money, not receiving thus any profit. Less than in two years of work IMSLP became the world’s largest on-line musical library. Then Universal Edition also has paid to a resource the attention.

The overwhelming majority of the materials which have been laid out on a site, were the public property. However some of these partitas were not public property in the United States and the EU countries where the copyright operates not less than seventy years after death of the author of product. At the same time, in Canada and other countries of the world these materials were popular on the lawful bases. Therefore the owner of a resource has taken care of that all the partitas protected by a copyright, had corresponding marks, and has hung out on a site the reference to users from the USA and EU with the request to observe laws on the copyright.

However publishing house Universal Edition has counted, that it is not enough such measures for observance of a copyright, and that the best way to protect interests for a long time the late composers begins closing on-line musical library. The first letter from Universal Edition with the requirement to stop to break laws on copyright Feldmahler has received in August of current year. The second message has been directed to it in October in it the publishing house has demanded to remove from a site all copyright materials not later on October, 19th and to supply a resource with filtering system which will not allow users to hang out the partita. Otherwise Universal Edition was threatened to address in court.

Having consulted with lawyers, the student has understood, that at it is not present either forces, or means for struggle against publishing house, and has made a decision to obey to requirement Universal Edition and to close IMSLP. Forums IMSLP will not stop the work. Feldmahler plans to prepare copies of database IMSLP Mediawiki and begins to send them by inquiry to any interested person. Besides the former head of the International musical library promises to transfer five domain names, belonging IMSLP, any organization which will want to continue the project in this or that kind.

October 23, 2007 | Filed Under IMSLP