London - A website that offered digital sheet music of classical works has been shut down by its owner, after receiving a cease and desist letter from German music publisher Universal Edition, The Register reported.

The letter said that the site, The International Music Score Library Project, should "filter IP addresses" so that it could make sure that copyrights were enforced for the pertinent terms -- 70 years following the composer's death in Europe, and 50 years after death in Canada.

It also demanded the removal of any scores by any Universal Edition artists.

The site's proprietor, "Feldmahler," said in a note on the site that he simply wanted to post copies of public domain works online, adding that he has not benefited financially from the site.

"After lengthy discussions with very knowledgeable lawyers and supporters, I became painfully aware of the fact that I, a normal college student, has neither the energy nor the money necessary to deal with this issue in any other way than to agree with the cease and desist, and take down the entire site," Feldmahler wrote in an open letter on the site.

Feldmahler also offered others involved in the project the opportunity to take over the domain names and database and continue the project.

Related Links:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/22/music_scores_taken_down

http://imslp.org