What can we tell from CD’s copyright information?

[SAPHANA]

Just received two CD box sets from Sony: a big box of Szell’s complete recordings, and a small one of Leonard Rose’s cello recordings.

Listened to the first disc of each, but heard huge SQ differences: the Szell one is very bad.

Both were initially published at around the same time: end of 40’s. Here is an example I found on the CD’s envelope:
℗ 1948/1950 & [emoji767] 2018

I am wondering whether we can tell the remastering information from this line. Do I understand it correctly that the original LP, which was published in 1948, is not protected by copyright? Does “[emoji767] 2018” mean it was remastered? Or it simply means Sony owns the copyright of this new CD transfer?

EMI/Warner did good jobs indicating whether their box sets were remastered or not, but it seems Sony, DG rarely do that.

[Masterlu]

This brings up a good point; Re-Marketed or Re-Mastered.

[Antonmb]

Sound recordings could not be copyrighted prior to 1972, so there would be no copyright on the original recording. In reissuing or “republishing” the recording, Sony can copyright the new version, hence the 2018 copyright. This information doesn’t really tell you anything about whether it was remastered or not.

[SAPHANA]

Originally Posted by Antonmb

Sound recordings could not be copyrighted prior to 1972, so there would be no copyright on the original recording. In reissuing or “republishing” the recording, Sony can copyright the new version, hence the 2018 copyright. This information doesn’t really tell you anything about whether it was remastered or not.

Thanks, this was also what I understood. So is it true that the publishers can simply re-publish the exact same CD with a new copyright year?

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by SAPHANA

Thanks, this was also what I understood. So is it true that the publishers can simply re-publish the exact same CD with a new copyright year?

I’m not positive, but I think they have to do something to it -but that could be as simple as rearranging the track order, or assembling a group of recordings into a box set.