Freesound Forums

I know there is always topics in this forum about copyright this and copyright that, but I'm not to sure on royalty free samples. Are we aloud to upload these? or is it a grey area to be avoided so we don't get in trouble. obviously i could go crazy (i have over 18gb of these samples ops: ) but its just I've noticed in the request forum people asking for things that i have obtained off the front of magazines and such!

I ran into this when I wanted to upload a sample that contained a tiny moment from a SOUND IDEAS CD.

Although I have the rights to use it in my own works... commercials, promos, songs, videos, audioplays, etc. - I apparently did NOT have the rights to include it as part of a new effect that could be used by others. Even for free. (or maybe especially)...

Part of a finished work - ok

Part of a stand-alone effect - not ok.

Here's a portion of the note I received when I asked them:

>"You are not authorized to:
>. Make copies of any of the unsynchronized
>recordings contained within our royalty free
>products, except as may be designated to
>a single stand alone workstation for the sole
>purpose of specific audio and / or visual synchronization at your own facility.
>. Copy, duplicate, provide access to, sell,
>lease, loan or give away unsynchronized sounds
>from any Sound Ideas royalty free
>product by any means including the World Wide
>Web, streaming audio or any delivery method now known or which shall become
>known."

hock:

Apparently it's the ultimate use they're most concerned about. Even though my sound and the sound from them was sychronized together in the body of a new effect. The effect itself was unsychronized. And not within my rights to use in that way.

Basically they still hold some rights, but won't charge me any MORE to use it in my productions. I'm sure, based on how the agreement is worded, a lawyer might be able to debate it... as that's what they're likely to do about anything... but, is it worth it?

freq

I think that the only sounds you'd be able to repost here are either Public Domain or CC-BY with proper attribution. "Royalty Free" generally means free with some stipulations as freqman pointed out. In any case you wouldn't be able to re-license it as Sampling+ because you're not the copyright holder for that sample.

that's cool, thank you for clearing that up!

I don't really trust royalty free stuff, that's why I always edit my sounds as much as possilbe to make it sound unique.

Djsushi-x
I don't really trust royalty free stuff, that's why I always edit my sounds as much as possilbe to make it sound unique.

good point!