Can I publish cover songs on YouTube?
June 18, 2022 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Alice Falk
Dear lawyer,
My name is Lina Köhler and I am a hobby musician. In my free time, I enjoy recording cover versions of popular songs and sharing them on my YouTube channel. So far, I have never had any issues with this, but recently I have heard that there could be legal problems if you release cover songs without permission.
Currently, I regularly upload cover songs on YouTube as I enjoy doing it and I also have a few followers who enjoy my music. However, the uncertain legal situation worries me. I do not want to get into trouble with copyright infringement or have my channel blocked.
Therefore, my question to you as an expert in copyright law is: Am I allowed to publish cover songs on YouTube without owning the rights to the original songs? Are there any possible solutions to avoid legal problems, such as licensing options or other ways to publish cover songs safely and legally?
I would greatly appreciate your professional opinion on this matter, as clear legal guidance is very important to me in order to continue sharing my music on YouTube. Thank you in advance for your help and advice.
Best regards,
Lina Köhler
Dear Mrs. Köhler,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding copyright in connection with the publication of cover songs on YouTube. It is understandable that you are concerned about possible legal issues and want clear guidance on this matter. As an expert in copyright law, I would like to assist you and provide you with some important information on this topic.
First and foremost, it is important to know that copyright regulates the protection of intellectual property, including rights to musical works. This means that the rights to a song, whether original or a cover, belong to the authors, typically the composers and lyricists of the song. Therefore, if you publish a cover song on YouTube without owning the appropriate rights, this can be considered a copyright infringement.
However, there are ways to avoid legal issues and legally publish cover songs. One option is to license the rights to the original songs. This means obtaining permission from the authors or rights holders to cover and publish the song on YouTube. There are various licensing options, depending on whether you intend to use the song commercially or just cover it for private purposes.
Another option is to use platforms such as GEMA (Society for musical performing and mechanical reproduction rights), which manage the rights of musicians and authors. By registering with GEMA, you can legally publish your cover songs as a musician and receive proper compensation for the use of the songs.
It is also important to note that there are some exceptions in copyright law that allow for the use of certain copyrighted works, such as the right to quote or freedom of panorama. However, these exceptions are often not applicable to cover songs as they are complete works.
Overall, I recommend that you always inform yourself about the legal situation before publishing cover songs on YouTube and, if necessary, obtain the appropriate licenses to avoid copyright infringements. If you are unsure about owning the rights to a song, I recommend seeking advice from a copyright lawyer who can professionally advise you.
I hope this information helps you and provides you with clear guidance on the publication of cover songs on YouTube. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Alice Falk, Copyright Lawyer
