Uploading copyrighted music to Facebook can get your account restricted or disabled. However, there are a few ways to legally use copyrighted music on Facebook.
Use Licensed Music
The easiest way is to use music that is already licensed for your use. Here are some options:
- Use music from Facebook’s free music library. Go to Facebook Creator Studio and click “Music Library” to browse and download tracks you can use in videos.
- Use copyright-free music or creative commons music. Sites like Free Music Archive, Bensound, and Incompetech offer free tracks.
- Pay for a music license. Getty Images, AudioJungle, and other sites allow you to buy licenses to use popular songs.
Just make sure to check the terms of any music you want to use to ensure it’s properly licensed.
Mute the Audio
If you want to upload a video that contains copyrighted background music playing on a radio, TV, etc., you can mute the audio entirely.
Upload the video file to your video editor and mute the audio track before exporting and uploading to Facebook. This removes the music while preserving the visuals.
Remix the Song
You may be able to utilize the “fair use” provision of copyright law by remixing or reimagining the song to make it distinctly your own.
For example, you could record yourself singing a cover version of the song with new vocals and instrumentation. Or you could sample a portion of the song and integrate it into an original track.
This transforms the copyrighted work into a new creative work for critique, commentary, education or parody. However, you’ll want to keep your remix modest in length to stay safely within fair use guidelines.
Dispute Copyright Claims
If you do upload a video containing copyrighted music and it gets flagged, you may be able to dispute the claim under fair use if:
- You only use a very small portion of the song (e.g. 5-10 seconds).
- You are commenting on or critiquing the song itself.
- The music plays briefly in the background but is not the focus of the video.
When disputing the claim, you’ll need to provide a detailed explanation of why you believe your use qualifies as fair use. However, keep in mind there’s always a risk the claim will still be upheld.
Block the Copyright Holder from Monetizing
If you do upload a video that contains copyrighted music, the copyright holder can issue a claim against it. This will allow them to place ads and monetize your video.
You can block this by disputing the claim on grounds of fair use (as explained above). Alternatively, you can acknowledge the valid copyright claim but block the holder from monetizing your video.
Simply check the box that says “I acknowledge this content is not my original work” when disputing. The copyright holder will not be able to monetize your video, even though their claim is valid.
Use Public Domain Music
Some older music is in the public domain, meaning the copyright has expired and it can be used freely. Music published in the U.S. before 1923 is in the public domain.
Websites like Musopen and Free Music Archive provide downloads of classical, jazz and folk music in the public domain that you can use in videos.
Do your research to ensure any public domain music you want to use was published before the 1923 cutoff.
Use Music from Unknown/Unsigned Artists
You can find lots of music from lesser-known, independent and unsigned artists on sites like SoundCloud, Bandcamp and Jamendo.
Many of these artists allow non-commercial use of their songs if you give proper attribution. Read the terms of use for any song, and reach out to the artist if needed to request permission.
Conclusion
Uploading copyrighted music to Facebook without the proper licensing can lead to copyright claims against your account. However, you have options to legally use music, such as:
- Using Facebook’s free music library
- Paying for a music license
- Muting audio with copyrighted background music
- Remixing/reimagining the song
- Disputing claims under fair use
- Blocking copyright holders from monetizing your videos
- Using public domain or creative commons music
- Finding music from unknown/unsigned artists
With the right approach, you can incorporate music to enhance your videos without infringing on copyrights. Do your research, use music properly licensed for your use case, and exercise caution when using copyrighted music in any capacity.
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Facebook has strict rules and algorithms in place to detect copyrighted music being uploaded without proper licenses. They fingerprint audio tracks and automatically scan both videos and live streams for material that violates copyrights.
When copyrighted content is detected, the first thing that will happen is your video will be blocked from being viewed. An alert will notify you that your video contains music owned or controlled by a third party.
At this point, you have a few options:
- Remove the video completely
- Edit the video to remove the copyrighted music
- Mute the section with the unauthorized music
- Dispute the claim if you believe your use qualifies as fair use
If you do nothing, after a period of time the copyright holder can issue a formal claim against your video. They will have the option to block the video completely, mute the audio, or run ads on your video to monetize it themselves.
Too many copyright strikes can lead to penalties from Facebook:
- Copyright warning on your account
- Restricted ability to monetize videos
- Temporary blocking from posting videos
- Permanent disabling of your account
These penalties get progressively more severe with each additional strike. So it’s critical to respect music copyrights and have the proper licensing.
While Facebook’s automatic system is good at detecting popular copyrighted music, there are cases where you may be able to bypass it:
- Using lesser-known music from unsigned artists
- Uploading low-quality videos with distorted audio
- Playing short clips of songs (5-10 seconds) that may fly under the radar
- Using music in the public domain
However, you are still taking a risk anytime you upload copyrighted material without permission. It’s possible to have a video go undetected initially but then be flagged later after additional checks by the copyright holder.
The only way to fully protect yourself is by sticking to music that is explicitly licensed for your use. Taking shortcuts may work temporarily, but could still result in legal issues or penalties down the road.
Rather than looking for loopholes, put that effort instead into finding great music that is free to use legally. Sites like Free Music Archive, Incompetech, Free Sound Effects, and YouTube Audio Library are great sources.
You can also search sites like SoundCloud and Bandcamp for artists who allow reuse of their music with proper attribution. And using music tools like Artlist that provide inexpensive subscriptions for licensed tunes can make it easy to find the perfect track for your videos.
With so many resources for legal music, there’s no reason to risk your Facebook account by using copyrighted tracks without authorization. Do things above board, and you’ll never have to worry about penalties – you’ll instead have more time for creating great content that wows your audience!