Disclaimer: The information provided is general and not legal advice. Consult a legal professional for specific copyright inquiries.
Whether you can face a copyright strike for utilizing popular music on TikTok primarily hinges on how you use the music and your account type.
Firstly, using sounds from TikTok’s music library is generally safe. TikTok holds licenses with major music labels, allowing users access to a broad range of popular songs for their videos. If you have a personal account and create non-commercial content using sounds directly from TikTok’s library, you typically operate within TikTok’s licensing framework, minimizing the risk of a copyright strike. Nevertheless, if a sound is removed from the library due to licensing changes, your existing videos featuring that sound may have their audio muted.
On the other hand, Business Accounts face different regulations. To steer clear of legal issues related to commercial usage of popular music, Business Accounts are typically limited to a separate “Commercial Music Library” comprising royalty-free, pre-approved tracks. If a Business Account uses a mainstream song from the general library, the risk of audio muting or video removal due to copyright infringement is considerably higher.
The most significant risk arises when uploading a video with self-added music. If you edit a video outside TikTok, include a copyrighted song without a license, and upload it, you are at a high risk of copyright infringement. TikTok’s detection systems are adept at identifying copyrighted audio, leading to audio muting, video removal, or copyright infringement notices.
While TikTok’s system for addressing infringements may not be as explicit as YouTube’s, repeated violations can result in penalties such as temporary suspensions or a permanent ban. Typically, you may encounter content takedowns and audio muting.
To summarize, for personal, non-promotional content, using sounds from TikTok’s general library is generally safe. Business or branded content should stick to the Commercial Music Library. Avoid uploading videos with self-added copyrighted music lacking a proper license.
Best regards,
Sean