Asked in Copyright

Q: I was wondering what happens if I remake a beat from a song and post it on YouTube, do I own the license?

If someone straight up copies my work and redistributes it as his own on YouTube, do I have the rights to take the video down?

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2 Lawyer Answers
Jason Brooks
Jason Brooks
Answered
  • Intellectual Property Lawyer
  • los angeles, CA

A: Yes you do. If you are the copyright owner of a work that is being infringed on YouTube, file a takedown request. If the work has actually generated significant views/listens and earned revenue from ads, you also have a claim for actual damages.

Barbara Berschler
Barbara Berschler
Answered
  • Intellectual Property Lawyer
  • Rockville, MD

A: While I agree with Mr. Brooks about your right to notify the ISP and request the take-down, I am not sure, from what you write, that you own all of the rights in the beat that you remade. If your work was based on someone else's music, then what you created was a derivative work, and without obtaining a license, you may be infringing on the rights of the original creator. Before you go farther, you may wish to consult with copyright counsel.

Evelyn Suero agrees with this answer

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