Copyright on Irish national anthem falls into the public domain

The copyright of the Irish national anthem "A Soldier's Song" will expire next year. In 1933 the Irish state bought the rights to the anthem to ensure it is freely accessible and useable for the people. In addition, the Irish government appreciates the opportunity to act against "inappropriate" uses of the anthem, like ridiculing or scorning versions, through copyright.
 
Earlier, the Turkish government also announced to take steps to ensure that the Turkish national anthem is freely available to the public. New legislation should guarantee that the copyright holders to the national anthem are not allowed to demand any kind of compensation for performances of the song. At the moment the rights belong to the heirs of its composer Zeki Üngör. The heirs of Üngör filed a claim with the German collecting society after a performance of the Turkish anthem in Germany.