The Hanging Tree

This sound recording of "The Hanging Tree" by James Newton Howard and Jennifer Lawrence, released in 2015, is protected under federal copyright law. According to the Music Modernization Act (MMA), specifically 17 U.S.C. § 1401(a)(2)(A), sound recordings fixed on or after February 15, 1972, are subject to standard federal copyright terms. This means they are protected for a term equal to the life of the author plus 70 years, or, if a work made for hire, for 95 years from the year of its first publication or 120 years from the year of its creation, whichever expires first. Since this recording was fixed and released in 2015, it falls squarely within this provision, receiving the full protections afforded to other federally copyrighted works. This protection extends to the sound recording itself, encompassing the unique performance and production elements captured. It is important to note that this analysis pertains solely to the copyright of the sound recording. The underlying musical composition (melody and lyrics) for "The Hanging Tree," regardless of its own copyright status, is a separate intellectual property and is subject to different copyright provisions, typically benefiting the songwriters and composers.