While a song might be public, it doesn't mean that a specific recording of the song is. The owners of the rights to the recording can only exercise rights over

While a song might be public, it doesn't mean that a specific recording of the song is. The owners of the rights to the recording can only exercise rights over their recording, not on the song itself. Sorry to nitpick, but if we are going to talk about legal issues let's, at least, be precise.