Protected

Struttin'

Jerry Reed Hubbard

1975

Confidence

98

— Composition copyright —

Songwriter & publisher

Protected

Songwriter(s): Jerry Reed Hubbard
Publisher: Vector Music
First published: 1975

Rule · Compositions first published in 1975 are protected for 95 years from publication. Enters US public domain on January 1, 2071.

The musical composition for "Struttin'" was written and first published by Jerry Reed Hubbard in 1975. This places the composition under the protection of the 1976 Copyright Act, as amended, and subsequently extended by the Copyright Term Extension Act (CTEA). For works created and published in 1975, the copyright term is 95 years from the date of publication. Therefore, the composition for "Struttin'" is fully protected in the U.S. and will not enter the public domain until January 1, 2071. Any use of the underlying musical composition – including creating cover versions, sampling, or synchronization for visual media – requires direct licensing from the copyright holder (the publisher, Vector Music, or its administrators) or the songwriter's estate.

Confidence

98

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

Recordings fixed on or after February 15, 1972 are subject to standard federal copyright (life of author + 70 years, or 95 years for works made for hire). Protected.

— AI Reasoning —

Why this status applies

The sound recording of "Struttin'" by Jerry Reed Hubbard, released in 1975, is definitively protected under federal copyright law in the United States. This protection stems from the Music Modernization Act (MMA), specifically 17 U.S.C. § 1401(a), which brought all sound recordings fixed on or after February 15, 1972, under federal copyright protection. Prior to the MMA, recordings from this era were protected under a patchwork of state laws. Jerry Reed's 1975 recording falls squarely within this timeframe. As a well-known country and instrumental artist signed to RCA Records, his recordings from this period were subject to the robust protection afforded by federal copyright, treating them similarly to other types of copyrighted works. RCA, as the record label, would typically hold the copyright to the sound recording as a work made for hire. Under this provision, the sound recording is protected for a term of 95 years from its date of publication. Given its 1975 release, the sound recording of "Struttin'" will remain under federal copyright protection until January 1, 2071, at which point it will enter the public domain.

— Cited Sources —

Supporting facts

17 U.S.C. § 1401(a) (Music Modernization Act)
U.S. Copyright Office Circular 92, 'Copyright Law of the United States and Related Laws'
Jerry Reed discography information (e.g., AllMusic, Discogs)
Information on RCA Records' historical practices regarding artist contracts

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.