In the music industry
Modifying the integrity of a music work (translation, modifications, etc.)
Translating and/or adapting a music work into another language, creating arrangements that alter the integrity of that work and/or modifying a music work in whole or in part. For example, translating an English-language song into French, singing one song’s lyrics over a different melody, suppressing parts of the lyrics or making substantial changes to the melody, or creating a mash-up, etc. These do affect the integrity of that piece of music and must therefore be approved by the rights holders.
To arrange a music work without modifying its integrity, please refer to that page.
Read moreArranging a musical work
If you wish to create new arrangements for an existing music work without modifying its integrity, you do not need the permission of the rights holders. However, if your arrangements alter the music work, you must obtain the permission from the rights holders. Normally, reinterpreting a piece with the addition of strings, or doing an acoustic version of a rock piece does not alter the integrity of that work.
However, suppressing parts of the lyrics or making substantial changes to the melody, or creating a mash-up, for example, do affect the integrity of that piece of music and must therefore be approved by the rights holders.
Read moreReproduction and exploitation of music on a physical support
Marketing—on a physical support such as a CD, DVD or vinyl record—of the sound recordings of music, whether or not you own the rights to it. For example, if you are an independent artist or record label and wish to distribute a vinyl version of your album or a CD version in stores.
Read moreMaking available a piece of music and/or sound recording you own all the rights to on a streaming and/or download platform
Uploading the sound recording of a piece of music to which you own all the rights on legal streaming or download platforms. Let’s say you are an independent artist or record label and wish to make your music available via platforms such as iTunes or Spotify and you own all of the rights for the work itself and its sound recording.
Read moreMaking available a musical work and/or sound recording on a streaming and/or download platform when you do not control all the rights
Uploading the sound recording of a piece of music to which you do not own all the rights on legal streaming or download platforms. For example, commercializing via Bandcamp a compilation of songs that already exist on iTunes, the digital release of a cover version, mash-up or remix that uses, in whole or in part, one or more existing pieces of music.
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