Legal

General Terms and Conditions for Music Licenses

Platform: musiconnect.

As of: June 2026

1. Scope & Contractual Relationship

1.1. These General Terms and Conditions (hereinafter "Licensing Terms") apply to all contracts for the acquisition and use of music licenses (in particular beats, instrumentals, songs, samples, hereinafter referred to as "audio files") concluded via the online platform musiconnect.

1.2. musiconnect. acts exclusively as a technical marketplace operator and intermediary. When a user (hereinafter "buyer" or "licensee") acquires a license, the license agreement is concluded directly between the respective creator of the audio file (hereinafter "producer" or "licensor") and the buyer. musiconnect. itself does not become a party to the license agreement unless expressly stated otherwise.

2. License Models (Based on the BeatStars Model)

The producer may offer different license tiers for their audio files on the platform. Unless individually agreed otherwise during the specific purchase process, the following usage rights apply to the standard license types:

A. Non-Exclusive Licenses (e.g. Standard, Premium, Unlimited)

  • Rights granted: The buyer receives a non-exclusive, perpetual, worldwide right to use the audio file for their own music projects (e.g. vocal recordings over the instrumental). Since the license is non-exclusive, the producer may continue to license the same audio file to other parties.
  • Usage limits (tiered by purchase price, analogous to BeatStars):
    • Audio streams: Limited to a maximum number of streams (e.g. 10,000 streams for Standard, 500,000 for Premium, unlimited for Unlimited) on platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, etc.
    • Distribution (sales): Limited to a maximum number of physical copies (CDs, vinyl) or digital downloads (e.g. 1,000 to unlimited).
    • Radio & TV use: Non-exclusive licenses generally permit only limited or no commercial radio and TV broadcasts without a separate agreement.
  • Live performances: Permitted within non-commercial or for-profit performances up to a defined revenue or event threshold.

B. Exclusive Licenses (Exclusive Rights)

  • Rights granted: The buyer acquires the exclusive and sole right of use for the audio file. After the sale of exclusive rights, the producer must promptly remove the instrumental from the marketplace and may no longer offer it to any other person.
  • Validity for existing customers: Non-exclusive licenses legally acquired by third-party buyers prior to the exclusive purchase remain fully valid and unaffected until their respective streaming/sales limits are reached.
  • Scope: Unlimited streams, unlimited sales, unlimited radio broadcasts and synchronization rights (film/TV/advertising).

3. Intellectual Property & Copyright

3.1. No transfer of ownership: Even when purchasing an "Exclusive License," the producer remains the legal author of the audio file. Only usage rights (exploitation rights) are transferred. The sale of copyright as a whole is excluded under European law.

3.2. Credit requirement: The buyer is obliged to credit the producer by name on every release of the new musical work (e.g. on YouTube, Spotify, CD cover) in the title or in the credits (format: "Produced by [Producer's Name]" or "[Song Title] (prod. by [Producer's Name])").

4. Content ID & Digital Fingerprinting (e.g. YouTube Content ID)

4.1. Prohibition for non-exclusive buyers: Buyers of a non-exclusive license are strictly prohibited from registering the final song with automated content identification systems (such as YouTube Content ID, Facebook Rights Manager, etc.). Since other artists may legally use the same audio file, doing so would result in unjustified copyright claims against third parties.

4.2. Rights of the exclusive buyer: Registration with Content ID systems is reserved exclusively for the buyer of exclusive rights or the producer themselves.

5. Financial Terms, Royalties & Collecting Societies

5.1. Mechanical rights revenue: Revenue from the direct sale or streaming of the new song (e.g. Spotify payouts) belongs in full to the buyer within the limits defined by their license tier.

5.2. Collecting societies (AKM, GEMA, ASCAP, BMI): Unless otherwise agreed in the individual purchase contract, the producer retains their claim to the author's share (publishing share, typically 50%) in distributions by collecting societies for public performances and radio/TV broadcasts. The buyer is obliged to provide the correct details of the producer (IPI/CAE number) when registering the finished song with a collecting society.

6. Delivery & Technical Provision

6.1. Audio files are delivered immediately after successful payment via Stripe by digital download on musiconnect.

6.2. Depending on the chosen license tier, the buyer receives the file in the following formats:

  • MP3 format (compressed)
  • WAV format (high-resolution, uncompressed)
  • Trackouts/Stems (individual instrument tracks for professional mixing)

7. Right of Withdrawal & Refunds

7.1. Since the audio files offered are digital goods that can be downloaded immediately after purchase, the statutory right of withdrawal expires as soon as the download process has started or the file has been made available.

7.2. Refunds are generally excluded unless the file is demonstrably technically defective and the defect cannot be remedied by the producer or the platform within a reasonable period.

8. Disclaimer of Liability & Indemnification

8.1. The producer warrants that they hold the sole copyright in the audio file offered and that no third-party rights (e.g. through unlicensed, third-party samples) are infringed. The producer alone — not the platform musiconnect. — is liable for any copyright infringements caused by illegal samples.

8.2. The buyer indemnifies musiconnect. from all claims arising from a use of the audio file contrary to this contract or from modifications of the material by the buyer.

9. Final Provisions

9.1. The law of the Republic of Austria applies, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods.

9.2. For any disputes arising from or in connection with the use of the platform or these terms, the court competent for Vienna shall have jurisdiction, to the extent permitted by law.