Uncertain

Plastic Toy City theme

Yoshihiro Hanno

Year unknown

Confidence

85

— Composition copyright —

Songwriter & publisher

Uncertain

Songwriter(s): Yoshihiro Hanno
Publisher: Unknown
First published: Unknown

Rule · Year of first publication unknown — cannot apply US composition copyright rules.

The underlying musical composition for 'Plastic Toy City theme' is currently classified as 'UNCERTAIN' regarding its US copyright status. This is primarily due to the lack of information regarding its first publication year. Yoshihiro Hanno is credited as the composer for this theme, and without a definitive date of creation or first publication, it's impossible to apply the standard US copyright rules for musical compositions, which dictate protection based on the year of creation, publication, and the life of the author plus 70 years, or a term of 95 or 120 years for works made for hire or anonymous/pseudonymous works. To determine if the composition is in the public domain or still protected, we would need to know the year Hanno created or first published it. If the work was created or published after January 1, 1978, its term would typically be the life of Yoshihiro Hanno plus 70 years. If it were a work made for hire, it would be 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation. Works published before 1929 are generally in the US public domain. Given Hanno's active career, it's likely a relatively modern composition, suggesting it's still protected, but without a concrete date, this remains speculative. Therefore, for any use involving cover versions, sampling, or synchronization, clearance would be necessary unless a confirmed public domain status can be established.

Confidence

70

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 sound recording of 'Plastic Toy City theme' by Yoshihiro Hanno has been classified as 'UNCERTAIN' under the Music Modernization Act (MMA) because the year of fixation is unknown. The MMA, specifically 17 U.S.C. § 1401, establishes a tiered system for sound recording protection based on their date of fixation. Without this critical piece of information, it is impossible to apply the relevant MMA provisions to determine the recording's term of protection, which could range from an expiration in 2021 for pre-1972 recordings to potentially 100+ years for more recent works. For recordings fixed on or after February 15, 1972, their copyright term is generally 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter. However, the MMA also extends protection to pre-1972 recordings, phasing them into federal copyright law. For instance, recordings fixed before 1923 received protection until January 1, 2022. Subsequent tiers, such as those fixed between 1923 and 1946, receive 100 years of protection from fixation, and so on. Given that 'Plastic Toy City' is likely a video game or a related media property, the fixation year would typically coincide with the game's release or development. Yoshihiro Hanno is known for composing for various video games and anime. Without knowing the exact year this particular theme was recorded or first released in conjunction with its media, we cannot ascertain which MMA tier applies. Therefore, its status remains uncertain until the fixation year is identified.

— Cited Sources —

Supporting facts

17 U.S.C. § 1401 (Music Modernization Act)
U.S. Copyright Office Circular 92, Chapter 14: Sound Recordings
Known discography/work of Yoshihiro Hanno (e.g., game soundtracks, film scores)
General knowledge of video game theme music production

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.