If you’re making any kind of content, from videos, podcasts to games, you’ve most likely come across these terms on your travels:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Royalty-Free. Public Domain. Creative Commons.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n These are three distinct and different things; they are not interchangeable. Misunderstanding what your rights are surrounding them will lad you to copyright issues, fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What it means:<\/strong> What it doesn’t mean:<\/strong> So, royalty-free music is still copyright protected, but you can use it under a specific licence which will define:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main takeaway from this is clarity: when licensed properly, royalty-free music is designed for modern creator workflows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What it means:<\/strong> The catch:<\/strong> Common mistakes are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public domain is useful – but only if your are crystal clear on both the composition and<\/em> the recording.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What it means:<\/strong> Why it’s easy to get caught out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Creative Commons is a family of licenses, not just one license with a single set of rules. All the details matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It all really depends on what your specific use case is, ebut most issues occur when: <\/p>\n\n\n\nRoyalty-Free Music<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You pay for a one-off fee (or access via a license), and you don’t have to pay for ongoing use of the content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Royalty-free does not<\/em> mean copyright-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPublic Domain Music<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Either the copyright holder has relinquished their rights, or the copyright has expired. It is available for anyone to use without permission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not everything labelled “Public Domain” is what it claims to be. <\/p>\n\n\n\nCreative Commons Music<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The original creator gives a license for use under certain conditions. Some of the licenses allow commercial use, while others don’t. Some ask for attribution. Some won’t allow you to modify the content in any way.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSo which is safest for creators?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n