I’ve done a lot of research into the legal aspects of streaming, and I’m going to share my findings with you here in this article. It’s not all-encompassing, but it should be enough to keep you out of trouble.
I want to make sure that you understand how your use of music might come under scrutiny by the law. This will protect you from having to pay out a huge sum of money if something were to happen. If you are a streamer who plays copyrighted songs on your stream, you must know what rights you have and which ones you can play without being in violation of copyright laws.
If you’re just starting out as a cam girl or streamer, then you might find some things in this article confusing or unnecessary. That’s fine. The first step is to learn, so take everything I say with a grain of salt. You’ll get better over time.
You need to read through this entire article before making any decisions about what to play and what not to play. Do your best to understand what you’re doing, and you will stay out of trouble.
What is “copyrighted” music?
If you play a song from a CD that is copyrighted by someone else, then they own the rights to that song, which means you need to pay them for every time you play that song. However, if you create your own music, then no one owns that music and you can play it as much as you like.
So why does this matter to streamers and cam girls? Well, most people don’t create their own music. They either buy the rights to a copywritten song or pay a company to create a song specifically for them. When you do this, the company or artist usually grants you a limited amount of permission to use their song. If you’re using that song for free on a website or in a video, then it doesn’t matter too much. The problem is when you start playing that song live on your live stream.
An Asian cam girl from the popular Asian cams and dating site Asian Sex Dates has this to say: “I love to sing and dance. I love to be the center of attention. I love to show off my body. And I love to get off. So it’s only natural that I started performing on webcam. But I always have to keep music copyright issues in mind when I stream. I know that if I play a song that I didn’t create myself, it’s illegal to stream it online without getting permission first. I also know that it’s very important to get permission before playing someone else’s music, too. It’s hard to know what is okay and what is not because the rules are so complicated, and they change all the time. But the most important thing I learned was that I need to get permission before playing any music on my stream.”
How can you tell if a song is copyrighted?
To figure out if a song is copyrighted, look at the copyright symbol on the bottom right corner of the page. If there is a small number (4) next to that symbol, then it means that the company owns the rights to that song. If there is a small number (8) or a large number (1), then that means that the person who created the song has the rights to it.
If a company owns the rights to a song, then they will send a “cease and desist” letter to you if they find out that you’re playing it. They’ll also ask for compensation if you’re using their music and don’t have a license.
If a song is copyrighted by a person, then it will say that on the site where you found the song. For example, it will say “All rights reserved by Trey Songz.” This means that you won’t have any problems playing the song as long as you don’t use it in a way that would hurt the artist’s image.
Types of Music Licences
All Rights Reserved: These artists have full ownership over the music and won’t allow you to use it in a way that could harm their image or profit from their work. They may ask you to credit them.
CC By-SA 3.0 License: Some artists will let you use their music for free, but they will require that you include a link back to their website. You can use this music in videos, blogs, podcasts, etc. You can even edit the song to make it fit your needs.
Public Domain: These are songs that are over 100 years old and no longer owned by anyone. You can use these songs in videos and other works without a license.
If you are using music from an artist or company that isn’t on this list, then you need to contact them and ask for permission to use the music.
The Right to Use Music
Most companies and artists will grant you permission to use their music. They might give you a limit on the number of times you can play it. The length of the time you can use the music might be limited. You need to check the terms and conditions before you use it.
When you play music that you have permission to use, then it’s considered fair use. There are specific rules and regulations for each type of permission. You should look up the exact rules to see what you can and can’t do with it.
Fair Use Rules for Music
Here are some basic things that you need to know about music, including fair use and copyright infringement:
- If you play music on your live stream, then you need to get a license. If you don’t have one, then you could get sued. You could get a big fine or even go to jail.
- If you play someone else’s music on your stream, then you need to get permission first. If you have permission, then you can play it as much as you want.
- If you make your own music and play it on your stream, then it’s all good. You don’t need to ask permission or pay anyone.
To Sum It Up
As a streamer or cam girl, you need to be aware of how copyright law affects your work. You need to know what types of music you can and can’t use. You need to know the different licenses that you have and the requirements for each one. And most importantly, you need to know how to ask for permission when you need it.