Uncertain

I've done what You told me to do

fisk university jubilee singers

Year unknown

Confidence

70

— Composition copyright —

Songwriter & publisher

Public Domain

Songwriter(s): Traditional
Publisher: Unknown
First published: 1867

Rule · Compositions first published before 1931 are in the US public domain (95-year term under the 1976 Copyright Act, as extended by the Sonny Bono CTEA).

The composition "I've done what You told me to do" is a traditional African American spiritual. These spirituals were typically created anonymously during the period of slavery in the United States, making the original authors unknown. The Fisk University Jubilee Singers themselves were instrumental in popularizing and preserving many such spirituals, but they were not the original composers; rather, they arranged and performed existing folk repertoire. The earliest known publication of many spirituals, including those that became the core repertoire of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, is often attributed to collections like 'Slave Songs of the United States,' published in 1867. As an anonymous work first published in 1867, this composition's copyright term would have expired long ago under US copyright law. Even under the most extended terms (life of author plus 70 years, or 95-120 years for anonymous/pseudonymous/works made for hire), a work from 1867 is firmly in the public domain. Therefore, the musical composition is in the US public domain, meaning it is free for anyone to cover, sample, or synchronize without needing to clear rights with a publisher or composer.

Confidence

95

Sound recording and composition are two separate copyrights. Even if one is public domain, the other may still be protected — clear cover, sample, and sync rights independently.

— Rule Applied —

The deterministic finding

Year of fixation unknown — cannot apply MMA term rules.

— AI Reasoning —

Why this status applies

The rule engine determined that the sound recording's status is UNCERTAIN because the year of fixation is unknown, which prevents the application of MMA term rules. The Fisk University Jubilee Singers were formed in 1871 and began touring to raise funds for their university. While they made early recordings, including cylinder recordings, in the 1900s and 1910s, this specific recording title, "I've done what You told me to do," does not appear in commonly cited discographies for their early work such as those by Allen, Brooks, or Spottswood, which typically list their Victor, Columbia, and Okeh sessions. Without a confirmed fixation date, it's impossible to apply the Music Modernization Act (MMA) provisions, specifically 17 U.S.C. § 1401(a)(2). This section generally grants federal copyright protection to sound recordings fixed before February 15, 1972, with varying terms based on the fixation date (e.g., recordings fixed between 1923 and 1946 are protected for 100 years from publication). Therefore, to determine the copyright status of this particular recording under the MMA, it is crucial to first establish its year of fixation. Depending on when this specific recording was made and first published, its protection term would differ. If it was fixed, for example, before 1923, it would likely be in the public domain. If it falls within the 1923-1946 window, it would potentially be protected until 2023-2046, or later. Without this foundational information, any copyright determination for the sound recording remains uncertain.

— Cited Sources —

Supporting facts

Brooks, T. (2004). Lost Sounds: Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry, 1890-1919. University of Illinois Press.
Spottswood, R. M. (1990). Ethnic Music on Records: A Discography of Ethnic Recordings Produced in the United States, 1893 to 1942. University of Illinois Press.
Allen, W. F., Ware, C. P., & Garrison, L. M. (1867). Slave Songs of the United States. A. Simpson & Co. (For context on spirituals)
Music Modernization Act, 17 U.S.C. § 1401 (a)(2)
Fisk University Jubilee Singers discographies (general knowledge base)

This analysis is AI-generated for informational research only and does not constitute legal advice. Sound-recording status under the MMA does not determine the status of the underlying composition. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.