I have a question and I’m hoping someone might know the answer.

I’d like to incorporate the “Hokey Pokey” into a children’s book I’m revising. I would change it to the “Petunia Pokey” and change a few lines here and there. I’ve researched it a little and found this:

The Hokey Cokey or Hokey Pokey is a participation dance with a .... is regarded as a traditional song and is therefore free of copyright restrictions

I was wondering if anyone knows anything about copyright and permission.

Thanks

Comments

1- Colleen on Jul. 31 2008

hi Jen.. I don't know much.. but here's a website that might be helpful

http://www.library.pitt.edu/guides/copyright/

2- Colleen on Jul. 31 2008

here's another that might have some answers for ya.. good luck..

http://www.copyright.gov/circs/

3- Leanne on Jul. 31 2008

Jen, there's no chance this is protected by copyright, it's well outside any time restrictions and since it's regarded as traditional there's nobody to pay for it anyway

I know it's been around for as long as my grandparents can remember, since they taught it to me as a song from their childhood, so that's like forever... actually I believe it's from around the time of the Reformation in England, making fun of the Catholic rituals. To be fair, the Pope does wear a silly hat.