How does one discover if either books or music are out of copyright?

The first thing to do is check the book for its date of publication. Then read all the small print re the book and what they say about its contents.

If you are a student you can legally copy 5% of any book for your own use.

However when it concerns ,music you can not use more than 5% of someone else's composition unless the copyright ownership has lapsed.

It is 70 years for copyright to lapse, however that is not to say it can not be passed on in a last will and testament in which case it is renewed for a further 70 years.

Next you want to check a music catalogue in relation to the date a piece was written in before thinking of using it.

It would also pay to consider the copyright that exists on arrangements of pieces of music and apply the same rulings above.

All of this seems to suggest that music is a closed avenue for learners to take on board an interest in doing a cover of a song.

To do this you would need a ,mechanical license and you can find out about getting permission to do this via www.vocalist.org or via the mcps and then you would apply for maybes an exemption from Royalities if the recording you want to make is for yourself and not for public sale.

Google the above if you aren't sure.

Good luck.

I wrote this in April of 2011, presently after the shooting of Trayvon Martin-- no longer the shortest call, yet a contender for the shortest poem, and actual the shortest non-ironic poem on a as much as date concern: call: "For Trayvon Martin" text fabric: 'Emmett till... ...nevertheless.' To be study with an emphasis on the pause.

Depends on what jurisdiction you are in.