Q: I sell trivia and would it be legal to sell an audio round using clips of songs (incl. movie soundtracks)?
This audio round would be sold along with a trivia packet of questions and answers, forms, etc, not just on its own. Only a few seconds of each song would be used (with the idea that players guess the song, artist, film, etc.)
A:
In general, the unauthorized copying and sale of copyrighted songs is illegal, even if small portions of the works are used. You may need to obtain a license from the music publisher(s), or a compulsory mechanical license(s) through a licensing provider, such as, the Harry Fox Agency. You should consult with an entertainment attorney for legal advice.
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