How can one find out if a seemingly original melody one came up with
is really original?  Is there a database, searchable by actual sounds?
 Or a database with musical notation?

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Request for Question Clarification by kriswrite-ga on 25 Aug 2003 07:58 PDT

Gone~

There is no such database or databases.

However, it might help to know your specific concern. Are you the
composer, and would like to make sure you aren't conjuuring up a
melody you once heard? Or are you dealing with a composer or composers
and want to ensure that what they call their personal work is truly
their work?

Kriswrite

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Request for Question Clarification by justaskscott-ga on 25 Aug 2003 08:25 PDT

Actually, I believe there is such a database, though I'm not sure how
comprehensive it is at this time.  According to the material on the
relevant web site, you can use the database by uploading a piece of
music in midifile form; the file is then compared to those in the
database, and a report is generated.  If the string of music is not
similar to any in the database, you can add it to the database (which
is not publicly available) and assert ownership of it within the
database.

The web site claims 10,000 melodies, and expects hundreds of thousands
by the end of this year.

Would this web site be a sufficient answer to your question?

Respectfully, 10,000 melodies is a tiny drip in a massive ocean of music.

Re kriswrite-ga's comment:

I agree that 10,000 melodies is quite a small number.  But hundreds of
thousands, if the web site delivers on that promise, seems quite
substantial.

In any event, gone-ga will decide whether the site sounds sufficient.

It's an interesting question. It reminds me of the court case that
decided "My Sweet Lord" was a copy of "He's So Fine."
http://abbeyrd.best.vwh.net/mysweet.htm