15 IPA and Translation (Music)

For some projects, dissertation writers may want to create or reuse IPA or text translations.

• Reuse of copyrighted IPA or text translations, even when the SOURCE text is in the public domain, will require permissions.
  For example, if reprinting IPA and/or text translations from Beaumont Glass’s Hugo Wolf’s complete song texts the dissertation author would need to obtain permissions to reprint from the publisher of Glass’s book or an office charged with processing permissions.
• If a dissertation writer wants to create their own IPA or text translations of a public domain work, like an aria from Verdi’s Otello, no permissions or license are necessary. That translation would, in fact, become the intellectual property of the writer and can be copyrighted.
• If a dissertation writer wants to create their own IPA or text translations of a copyrighted work, like for Dr. Xingyi Huo did for for her 2021 recording thesis, “声乐套曲.四季诗谣 : Song cycle : Seasons (twenty-four solar terms),” it will require permissions or a license from the copyright holder. You can find the permissions letters Dr. Huo towards the end of her accompanying document. Translations become the intellectual property of the translator and can be copyrighted.

For more information on translations and copyright, see this circular from the U.S. Copyright Office on Derivative Works and Compilations