Respecting everyone's rights: Podcasts and copyrighted content

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But do you have the right to use that clip? If not, you may be violating copyright laws. Copyright infringement is when you use someone else's copyrighted work without permission, and when no other exceptions would allow you to use the copyrighted work. We believe all creators should be fairly compensated for their work and control its use, so before adding someone else’s content to your podcast, it’s important to make sure your podcast is doing it the right way.

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And just so you know, these rules don’t only apply to music. They also matter for other types of audio or video content, like news clips or audio from another source of media. All media that you don’t own—not just music—needs to be approved for your specific use. If not, and you’re found to be in violation, your podcast content may get flagged by rights holders or subjected to a takedown. Nobody wants that. And this copyright protection applies to your show, too. Other creators can’t use your work in their content unless they have your permission.

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Spotify wants to help creators better understand the ever-evolving copyright landscape and provide the necessary tools and resources for rights holders to ensure they are fairly compensated and their content is protected. We recommend taking the time to review your new or existing content for any potential violations. If you find any clips that are cause for concern, you have a few options:

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• License the music from the copyright owners (labels for sound recordings, publishers or collecting societies for compositions). If you already licensed the music, well done! 
• Hire a composer to create original music for your show and pay them for the rights in perpetuity - it may be an upfront cost but you won't have to worry about copyright going forward.
• Search for public domain music that is free to use since the original copyright for those pieces have now expired.

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Depending on where you are, there may be laws that allow you to use copyrighted materials without a license in certain situations. For example, in the US, the concept of “fair use” may protect certain uses such as “criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research” (read more about US fair use law here, exceptions to copyright in EU countries here, and exceptions to UK copyright here). 

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Looking for more information on copyright laws? Here are some links that share insight on regulations for different areas of the world:

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• European Union Intellectual Property Office
• US Copyright Office — “Can I Use Someone Else’s Work? Can Someone Else Use Mine?” FAQ
• Australia Government “Short Guide to Copyright”