Copyright, Producing with Soundpool Loops

brian-johnson wrote on 1/21/2025, 11:36 PM

Hi,

I hope this question is allowed in this forum, as I have no idea where to find the answers. I have made several songs with Soundpool loops, some original keyboard and bass tracks with original lyrics. I manufactured these songs in Acid Pro and Sound Forge Pro. And now my dilemna: I am preparing to register and copyright these pieces, but don't know whether to indicate myself as the producer since some Soundpool loops were used. I'd contacted Magix about licensing, and they told me there were no restrictions when using the above 2 platforms I'd used for producing tracks. I contacted them again regarding this concern of 'producer' but got no answer. Any info is greatly appreciated!

Thank you,

Brian

Comments

SP. wrote on 1/22/2025, 2:32 AM

@brian-johnson It's your song. Sounds like you transformed the loops a lot and therefore you have exceeded a certain threshold of originality.

It's only important that you cannot add this song to Content ID databases. Uploading songs with loops usually violates the terms of service of the database because it will automatically flag other users who use the same loops.

On the other hand, a lot of different people did this regardless and it can happen that your song gets automatically copyright claimed or blocked by other artists on certain platforms like YouTube.

emmrecs wrote on 1/22/2025, 3:30 AM

@brian-johnson

Are you aware of this page on the Magix web site? It details pretty clearly exactly what is and what is not subject to Magix' copyright.

The area in which you might find some difficulty is that of Soundpools. Unless you own a Commercial Licence for every individual soundpool loop you use the copyright in the material you produce cannot be yours.

As @SP. indicated, there is always the possibility that, whatever licence you own, someone else will claim you are using their work and attempt to block you!

HTH

Jeff
Forum Moderator

brian-johnson wrote on 1/24/2025, 11:54 PM

Hi,

Thank you all so much for your help and information. Also I did contact the copyright office this week. They stated that if I did use any loops in my productions, such as guitars and beats, I would have to give credit to the maker of the loop(s) on the copyright forms. Do I therefore give Magix credit for their loops I had used? In addition, since I used some of their loops, am I allowed to indicate that I am the producer of the final product I've completed? I don't know if im looking at this wrong, making it more difficult than necessary. Any help or ideas would be great.

Thank you,

Brian

emmrecs wrote on 1/25/2025, 3:33 AM

@brian-johnson

I think the important phrase is:

I would have to give credit to the maker of the loop(s)

(My bolding).

Magix is not that maker. As I understand it the loops are created by individuals working independently and who "sell" their "products" to Magix whilst retaining full copyright themselves unless the end-user purchases a Commercial Licence (one for each Soundpool).

In other words, you would need to give copyright credit to the creator of every loop you use (assuming you could discover who that is!).

Given the above, I am not sure you would need to give Magix credit for their loops [you] had used. Rather it is the actual loop creator who should be credited.

I think there should be no problem about you being allowed to indicate that [you] are the producer of the final product, i.e., in this case your Master Recording, but this whole area of rights etc, is very much fraught with problems!

HTH

Jeff
Forum Maker