Can I use other people's music for my dances?
August 18, 2022 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Sandra Altmann
Dear lawyer,
My name is Peter Ullmann and I run a dance school where I regularly offer dance classes. In my classes, I use various music pieces as background music for the choreographies I teach to my students. However, this music is not composed or produced by myself, but rather copyrighted works of other artists.
My question now is whether I am allowed to use this foreign music for my dance classes without any issues, or if I may potentially be violating copyright laws. I am concerned that by using this music in my classes, I may face legal consequences as I do not own the rights to the corresponding music pieces.
Is there perhaps a way for me to use the music legally without infringing copyright? Or should I better look for alternative music pieces that are free of copyright?
I would greatly appreciate it if you could help me with this matter and provide possible solutions to continue enhancing my dance classes with suitable music without taking any legal risks.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Peter Ullmann
Dear Mr. Ullmann,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the use of copyrighted music in your dance classes. Copyright law protects the works of artists, including musical compositions. In your case, you are using third-party music as background music for your choreographies without owning the necessary rights to the musical compositions. This can indeed lead to legal consequences, as you would be violating copyright law.
To legally use music in your dance classes, there are generally two options: you can either acquire the necessary licenses or use music that is in the public domain or under a Creative Commons license.
If you wish to use the music legally, you should contact collecting societies such as GEMA to acquire the appropriate licenses. This will grant you permission to use the music publicly and provide legal protection. The costs of the licenses may vary depending on the type and scope of use, so it is advisable to inquire about the fees in advance.
Alternatively, you can search for music that is in the public domain or under a Creative Commons license. Public domain music can be freely used as there are no longer any rights attached to the works. With music under a Creative Commons license, you must adhere to the terms set by the licensor, although these are generally more lenient than traditional copyright restrictions.
It is important as the operator of a dance school to consider the legal aspects of music use in order to avoid potential legal consequences. If you remain unsure, I recommend consulting a copyright lawyer to clarify your specific situation and develop individual solutions.
I hope this information is helpful to you and I am available to answer any further questions.
Sincerely,
Sandra Altmann, Attorney at Law
