Uploading Copyrighted Materials

[user-removed]

Hi,

A user on Reddit, linked below, is adamant that one can upload copyrighted material to Spotify because the company (Spotify) does a copyright check of all uploaded music, and gives royalties to the owner of such material, instead of the uploader. Is this even remotely true?

My understanding is that uploading any copyrighted material you don't own is very illegal. I can't see Spotify having manpower to verify and ascertain the owners of every song uploaded to its platform.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Naruto/comments/tayek3/what_battle_soundtracks_do_you_want_on_spotify/i07mw...

[Taylith]

Hello

It is true that uploading content which belongs to someone else is not allowed (one could even face criminal charges for that)

So Spotify has a set of Terms and conditions for anyone who uploads content.

If it is found that a user has done something like that, measures will be taken, including but not limited to, banning the account.

If somehow,due to an error (because content is checked by algorithms),the content is put up anyway,then it's only logical to pay the copyright owner

I will do more research into this issue and take it up with the relevant parties.

In the meantime, please don't indulge in such activities, for everyone's sake 🙂

Have a good day 💚

[SAMGEMINI]

So i actually have to find the Statement true that you can upload licensed content. The actual Copyright owner will be shown in the uploaded track (probably only if the uploading entity provides such Data)

here is the perfect example:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2bKc0HtINx3lDLpDPEv8vS?si=ZjOnZDyPSGiPqNkZD0kMmw 

This Artist uploads hundreds of Songs which contain licensed lyrics and melodies of major record labels and artists.
i actually talked to Spotify Customer service about this issue and their final response was:

We require that the rights holder reach out to us through the legal form. The rights holder will need to confirm which rights are being infringed (sound recording copyright, composition copyright, etc.). Please note that only the authorized rights holder can submit valid notices of intellectual property infringement.

So unlike Youtube or Soundcloud which auto-recognizes licensed content, on spotify you might just get away with it, and on top of that be able to monetize on stolen content and in this case reach 150k monthly listeners....