[danielweber]

> Isn't public oratory (a.k.a. "speeches") the most flagrant manner of "giving his speech away"?

Are Paul Simon's songs in the public domain because he did a concert in Central Park? (No.)

"I Have a Dream" is definitely owned by King's estate. King actively registered the copyright on it. This wasn't an accident. There is no doubt he wanted to keep on owning it.