Now that the entertainment industry has been on “vacation” due to the COVID-19 pandemic, artists have flooded streaming sites to stay relevant.
Content streaming platforms like Twitch have been the go to for performers looking for ways to stay connected with their fanbase.
However, their fans around the world and raise money for charities. However, creators on Twitch have started to get issued with Digital Millenium Copyright Act complaints. Some have been back dated from years past.
The Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) is a 1998 U.S. copyright law that implements two 1996 treaties of the World Intellectual Property Organization.
The Recording Industry Association America (RIAA), is the chief complainant for a majority of the cases. However, the songs are from numerous major label artists.
Twitch, is owned by Amazon and just like other social media platforms, is legally obligated to takedown copyrighted content. This insures the company’s protection under the Safe Harbor provision. This prevents a platform from being held liable for copyright infringements by its users.
Twitch’s copyright policy has been loosely enforced for years but now with increased attention on the platform, streamers are being faced with possible account terminations.
Streamers must delete all their clips containing music they haven’t created, don’t own or have permission for. For some, that might mean a catalogue of paying past streams. That brings up the issue of music in the video games streamers play.
Twitch streamers are not allowed to record clips of standard in game videos due to the music that already exists within the content.
If these instances are also counted then an entire online streamer business model can possibly be overhauled.
Give The DJ Some
Artists and DJ’s have been unable to tour due to the global pandemic. Twitch has been a saving grace vehicle for many who broadcast through the platform and raise money for charities.
But what about the perspective that popular Twitch streamers can boost a song’s popularity? Perhaps the platform will negotiate that with major music publishers? While the monetization flows one way currently, the industry is undoubtedly fighting back.
Currently, these are some types of music content you may not use in Twitch streams:
Radio-Style Music Listening Show, DJ Set, Karaoke Performance, Lip Synch Performance , Visual Music Depiction, and Cover Song Performances.
Twitch’s terms mention that in the cases of infringement they may mute VODs. The company now has an automated content filtering system that can detect unauthorized uses of music.
The tech is not perfect and artists have had their own music taken down due to labels registering their content.
