Facts and Myths About Copyright Law for Podcasts - EP 122

Just how legally protected is your show’s theme music, really? As a podcaster, chances are you have your dream theme music. A song that fits the vibe and topic to a T. If it’s a popular Top 40 song, you probably already know you can’t just use it for free. But what about random music you found on YouTube? Surely, you can pull just 12 to 30 seconds of that catchy tune—right? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. In this episode, Mary chats with copyright lawyer Mike Anderson, who works with podcasters, musicians, and other creatives to make sure they’re protected both by and from the many rules around ownership. From contracts written on napkins to the two unique types of music copyright (“Dolly” and “Whitney”), Mike will walk you through the basics of keeping yourself—and your creation—safe from cease and desist letters and other uncomfortable and costly legal missteps. While Mike offers up lots of helpful tips and things to think about, remember: this episode does not constitute legal advice. Always hire your own expert to deal with your specific case! Stay on the right side of copyright law with Mike’s professional insight: Why agreeing over beers to a 50/50 split with your co-host might not be legally binding; The difference in copyright laws between malls, movies, and podcasts; Dispelling the myth that it’s free to use 12 seconds of any song; How the law is shifting as AI plays are larger role in creative production. Links worth mentioning from the episode: Mike’s contract templates: https://www.lagomlaw.co/products Listen to Mike’s “Contract Law Gripes” episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contract-law-gripes-how-to-keep-contracts-efficient/id1410555303?i=1000738414441 Listen to EP 58 “Why What You Wears Matters in Podcasting”: https://www.organizedsound.ca/why-what-you-wear-matters-episode-58/ Engage with Mike Anderson: Work with Mike: https://www.lagomlaw.co/ Listen to the Lawyer Life podcast: https://interalia-law.com/podcast/ Support the Show! Love what you're hearing? Support the show by donating to the tip jar! http://visiblevoicepodcast.com/support Connect with Mary! Leave a voice note with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email [email protected] Get the full transcript of the episode at http://www.visiblevoicepodcast.com Read up on more secrets with the Visible Voice Insights Newsletter https://www.organizedsound.ca/newsletter To learn more or work with Mary, check out https://www.organizedsound.ca Link up on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marychan-organizedsound Engage on Instagram @OrganizedSoundProductions https://www.instagram.com/organizedsoundproductions Show Credits: Podcast audio design, engineering, and editing by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions Show notes written by Shannon Kirk of Right Words Studio Post-production support by Kristalee Forre of Forre You VA Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co