What is the difference between a public domain song and a recording?
A song's composition can be public domain, while its recording is still protected.
What you'll learn here
- The difference between a composition and a recording
- Why recordings are usually still copyrighted
A song has two separate copyrights:
- The composition (melody and lyrics)
- The recording (a specific performance of that song)
Even if a composition enters the public domain, most recordings of that song are still protected by copyright.
How Soundstripe helps:
- All Soundstripe Original tracks are original recordings that are properly licensed
- You do not have to research the copyright status
- You are cleared to use the recording safely in your projects
If you have questions about Soundstripe's licensing model, our support team is happy to help.