Are leaked music tracks subject to copyright protection?
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Is all music copyrighted? In most cases, music is copyrighted. However, the crucial factor determining restrictions on its use is the manner in which it is utilized. Occasionally, music may be copyright-free, such as music in the public domain which can be used without permission. Songs or pieces of music in the public domain are free for everyone to use due to specific criteria they meet.
A music leak is when music is released online without permission. This can happen before the official release date. Sometimes, leaked songs are demos or unfinished work not meant for the public. Hackers often get this material by accessing the online storage of artists, labels, producers, or journalists. Unreleased music is commonly obtained by hackers who access artists’ or producers’ email or cloud storage accounts.
In some troubling instances, fake music releases have managed to climb the streaming charts. For example, in March 2019, a phony Rihanna album named Angel appeared on iTunes and Apple Music as “Fenty Fantasia,” reaching No. 67 on the global albums chart before being taken down. Similarly, in May, a leak of Playboi Carti and Young Nudy’s “Pissy Pamper / Kid Cudi” was shared on Spotify as “Kid Carti,” attributed to “Lil Kambo.” Surpassing two million streams, “Kid Carti” even claimed the top spot on Spotify’s U.S. Viral 50 chart before being removed. Ironically, “Pissy Pamper / Kid Cudi” was never officially released due to clearance issues related to a sample from Mai Yamane’s 1980 song “Tasogare,” which formed the basis of its beat. As a result, neither Yamane nor the other artists involved, such as Carti and Nudy, received any compensation for the song’s streams.
Key Points: Copyright is the author’s legal right to the work, being personal and exclusive. Using copyrighted music without proper licenses is against the law. Music not under copyright includes Public Domain, Creative Commons, and royalty-free music. Legis Music, Epidemic Sound, and Artlist are top royalty-free music platforms. To check if a song is copyrighted, use PDinfo, YouTube, look for the copyright mark, understand the law, or consult copyright experts. Today, background music is indispensable.
Simply put, all songs are protected by copyright. If you plan to include music or audio in your videos, whether on YouTube or elsewhere, you must understand the relevant copyrights and how your use complies with copyright laws. Below is additional guidance on using copyrighted music on YouTube legally.
How to Verify if a Song has Copyright Protection
Although it is known that all songs have copyright protection, there are methods to determine the copyright status of a song and identify its rightful owners.
Public domain songs: The website PDInfo not only provides information about copyright law but also lists all the songs available in the public domain, typically composed or recorded before 1926 as of January 2022. Some more recent songs may also be in the public domain. PDInfo also offers royalty-free music; you pay once for the license and can use the song for any purpose you desire.
Creative Commons license: Some musicians offer their work under this license, allowing you to use their songs for free either with written permission in certain cases or with no restrictions on use. You can start by searching the Creative Commons site.
You can buy royalty-free music as well; however, all these copyright-free music options have a copyright associated with them. Public domain music has an expired copyright, Creative Commons has a unique licensing method, and royalty-free songs require a one-time license fee.