Video game music is becoming increasingly popular on YouTube. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see gamers uploading covers of their favorite video game songs and getting thousands or even millions of views.
But what about the copyright ownership of these songs? Is it possible for gamers to use video game music in their videos without infringing on copyright laws?
1. Copyright Laws and Video Game Music
The first thing that gamers need to understand is that copyright law applies to all forms of artistic expression, including music. This means that if a company creates the music for a particular game, they have exclusive rights to use it in various contexts, including commercial videos.
Gamers who want to use video game music in their videos must obtain permission from the copyright owner or use the music under a license agreement.
1. Licensing Agreements for Video Game Music
Another option for gamers who want to use video game music in their videos is to obtain a license agreement from the copyright owner. This typically involves paying a fee to the owner and obtaining permission to use the music in a specific context, such as commercial videos on YouTube.
There are several companies that offer licensing agreements for video game music, including Musicbed and Syncfusion. These companies have partnerships with many of the biggest game developers, allowing gamers to obtain licenses for popular game songs without having to negotiate directly with the copyright owners.
1. Case Studies of Video Game Music Copyright Infringement
There are several high-profile cases of video game music copyright infringement on YouTube. One example is the lawsuit between musician Daniel Rouffle and gaming company Atari, which accused Rouffle of using Atari’s iconic Pac-Man theme song in his videos without permission. The case went to trial and resulted in a judgment against Rouffle, who was ordered to pay $105,000 in damages.
Another example is the legal battle between musician CJ Naughton and gaming company Nintendo, which accused Naughton of using Super Mario Bros music in his videos without permission.
