Hi I am having a hard time understanding where to obtain a license in Canada for my music, if I even need one. I have referenced the help but only found links to US and UK sites. Do I need to individually copyright every song?
@jeremy-curry Yes, you need a license for commercial use. You need to purchase the commercial license from Producerplanet.com for every Soundpool you use in your compositions. This is a one time fee that allows you to commercially release as many compositions and songs as you want that are made with this Soundpool. The prices are usually between $20-$40 per Soundpool. There is no canadian site. I would suggest you use the US site. If you make all sounds and melodies yourself by recording them or using Vita instruments you don't need any license and can release everything for free.
I think there is some degree of misunderstanding in your post, sorry!
You asked Do I need to individually copyright every song? @SP. has explained that if you use any Magix Soundpool in a song that you intend to release, you must have the appropriate Magix Commercial Licence for each soundpool you use in order to do so. Just be aware that there are two types of Commercial Licence, the differences between them are listed here.
However, a finished song is the completed composition, the "whole thing". As such, assuming you have a suitable licence to use any part of any Magix soundpool included in that song, the copyright in that song belongs to you as the originator. Automatically, you own all the rights in the finished composition, albeit the song's components (in this case any Magix Soundpool) are still owned by their creators and you must have that suitable licence to use them.
HTH
Jeff
Forum Moderator
Hi
To add to @SP. and @emmrecs comments
. . . . copyright in that song belongs to you. . . . .
With one exception - the Soundtrack Maker wizard, if this is used, then by strict definition, it is not your 'own work'.
A potential issue you may have with using loops is future copyright claims from other artists, scammers or automated Content ID.
This is due to the use of loops which are available to all users of Music Maker. Such claims with respect to the use of a loop, or part of a loop are not sustainable as they cannot be copyrighted by a user - copyright always belongs to Magix.
If you are in the position of having your creations taken up by music publishers, radio, TV etc then you may need to provide a proof of your commercial licence - this will be you purchase confirmation emails as there is no physical distinction between private use and commercial loops. You have to be careful - only provide proof to bona fide music publishers, radio, TV and other commercial entities that require it - never to person or persons unknown on the Internet.
The downside of using loops is that commercial entities such as bona fide music publishers, radio, TV etc tend to frown upon music created from them - if this is a commercial route you intend to go down, then @SP.'s comment
. . . . If you make all sounds and melodies yourself by recording them or using Vita instruments you don't need any license and can release everything for free . . .
Is very applicable in this scenario.
HTH
John EB
Forum Moderator