Users massively warned about music in reels and stories

There is currently a lot of excitement about waves of warnings against commercial Instagram accounts.

The reason for the warnings are commercially used accounts of, for example, influencers who use music for their reels and stories to make their videos more attractive - but this is precisely where the problem lies.

‍

There is a huge difference between licensed and unlicensed music, especially when using the videos for commercial purposes.

‍

Licensed music is music for which the author or rights holder has granted a license or permission to use it. The license can be granted for various types of use, such as public performances, radio broadcasts, streaming, or use in films or commercials.

Unlicensed music refers to sound recordings that are published and distributed without the necessary permissions from the copyright holders. This often includes music copied from other sources or illegally downloaded. This includes, for example, pirated music, but also the use of copyrighted music in public performances or online videos.

‍

The difference between licensed and unlicensed music lies in the legal permission to use the music. Licensed music is legal, and the author or rights holder receives compensation for it, whereas the use of unlicensed musical works can constitute copyright infringement, which can result in legal consequences.

‍

So pay attention:

Instagram accounts used for commercial purposes are prohibited from using unlicensed music. Private accounts, or so-called "Creator Accounts," are permitted to use music from Instagram's extensive library. Business accounts, on the other hand, are limited to the "Facebook Sound Collection," which consists entirely of royalty-free songs.

‍

Be careful, however, even private accounts aren't secure. Some accounts may be considered business accounts based on certain factors, such as the number of followers or the type of posts. In these cases, using the Instagram music library is also illegal and therefore violates Instagram's copyright.

‍

The same applies to creator accounts that use their accounts commercially and use music from the Instagram music library. If they create Reels and Stories with the music without the necessary licenses, they are violating copyright law.

‍

This is followed by warnings from lawyers demanding that the use of the music be stopped, a large fine be imposed, and reimbursement of legal fees.

‍

Since the latest wave of warnings, many content creators in Germany are unsure how best to deal with the following situation.

Some delete their videos, use only music that does not require a license to be on the safe side, or others continue to post such clips.

‍

Our tip: To avoid a warning, videos with background music should be deleted or at least archived. New Reels should only be accompanied by royalty-free music.

If a warning letter does arrive, it should be examined carefully.

‍

‍