Ball Hog Summer

The Music Modernization Act (MMA), specifically 17 U.S.C. § 1401, provides a federal copyright framework for sound recordings. However, for 'Ball Hog Summer' by Protect, the exact year of fixation is currently unknown. This lack of a definitive fixation date prevents a precise application of the MMA's term rules. The MMA extended federal copyright protection to pre-1972 sound recordings, which previously were protected under various state laws, but the duration of that protection is contingent upon the recording's fixation year. Without knowing when 'Ball Hog Summer' was recorded and released, it's impossible to determine its specific term of protection under the MMA. For recordings fixed between 1946 and 1962, protection extends for 100 years from fixation. Recordings fixed between 1923 and 1945 receive 95 years plus an additional five years, totaling 100 years. Recordings fixed before 1923 are public domain as of January 1, 2022. Recordings fixed in 1972 or later fall under the 1976 Copyright Act, with a term of 95 years for corporate works or life of the author plus 70 years for individual authors. As 'Protect' is a relatively modern musical act, it is highly probable that 'Ball Hog Summer' was fixed after February 15, 1972, meaning its copyright term would be 95 years from the date of first publication, or life of the author + 70 years if it was a work made for hire. However, without concrete information regarding its release date or fixation year, the status remains officially uncertain, as the exact MMA provision for term calculation cannot be definitively applied.