Copyrighted music on a private YouTube stream
Copyrighted music on a private YouTube stream
Case 1:
A group visits my home for a Cosmology PowerPoint with background music from a streaming service like Tidal. I assume no copyright issues here.
Case 2:
I stream the same presentation via YouTube to a socially distant audience. The same music and charts are used, but the stream isn’t searchable and only those who received the private link can access it. The file isn’t available for download. Is this a copyright breach?
Michael
Legally you'd need to thoroughly review the YouTube agreement, though it's unlikely anyone will pay attention. However, YouTube bots are always monitoring and could interrupt your stream during your presentation. You might consider private streaming; using VLC allows direct transmission to your desired audience without detection. There are probably other alternatives available, and searching online should uncover more options, but this is the method I'm familiar with.
I’m not a lawyer and just sharing what I’ve found to show how odd the law can be. I think only someone with expertise in this field could give proper advice. I also believe it might vary depending on the county.
It’s fine to have colleagues over for a BBQ with music, but if anyone wants a radio at their desk even if others can’t hear it, the company should cover the specific license cost.
Interesting... I’m not a lawyer, but I’ve created a low-budget film and thus hold the copyright to it, its soundtrack, and all creative aspects. I drafted work-for-hire agreements for every team member involved. This has always been something I’ve focused on for many years. Years ago, I studied intellectual property at the American Film Institute.
My main concern isn’t making money from my work on YouTube; it’s about maintaining clear, direct connections that would avoid the need to travel. I give talks to small groups, schools, and friends nationwide. It never crossed my mind that I could share the same music electronically or use the same tracks online.
I’ve only recently started exploring YouTube, so I thought I’d learn how to do this legally. I asked for a free 30-minute consultation with an attorney in LA County, and they agreed to meet. When they found out I had no active case and just wanted information, they didn’t follow up. I sent my questions via email to save their time. I expected the reply to be quick—under five minutes.
Finding guidance on this topic has been challenging. Most resources assume monetization or channel growth, which isn’t always the case. I don’t seek recommendations, likes, or subscribers. My goal is simply to share what interests me. For 30 years, I’ve delivered similar presentations without charging for them.
There’s no link between my talks and the music used. I’ve done many presentations without sound, but I’m working on improving quality. The situation is made harder by today’s media landscape. I pay for Tidal subscriptions and no longer buy CDs. Over time, some older recordings—especially from less popular artists—have vanished from the service. Even better, certain movie soundtracks I loved are now missing entirely. It seems I’ve paid for something I enjoy, only to have it disappear without compensation.
Sorry for the rant, but I genuinely try to stay within the law, even though it looks like the odds are against me.
In your situation, a tiny private, unarchived stream means no one would likely be interested in what you do. The most serious risk is a copyright strike. However, you won't face legal trouble unless you continue or take actions that cause substantial financial harm to the copyright owner.
Legally you'd need to thoroughly review the YouTube agreement, though it's unlikely anyone will pay attention. However, YouTube bots are always monitoring and could interrupt your stream during your presentation. You might consider private streaming; using VLC allows direct transmission to your desired audience without detection. There are probably other alternatives available, and searching online should uncover more options, but this is the method I'm familiar with.
I reviewed the YouTube terms of service. I didn't find any details about my specific concerns.
It seems VLC plays from a pre-existing video file. I wish to stream live to a conference room where attendees are located. After Q&A sessions, there should be no remaining questions.