What is Digital Rights Management (DRM)?

Digital Rights Management (DRM) refers to the technology platforms use to protect the rights of content creators, particularly on platforms where users can freely upload content. To safeguard original work, these platforms use fingerprinting systems that create a reference for each piece of content. These references are then scanned across the platform to detect matches within user-generated content (UGC).

The goal of DRM is to prevent unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of music, video, and other media. Unfortunately, content theft is common, and creators often face challenges with their work being used without permission. DRM systems provide creators with tools to identify, manage, and protect their work.

Each major platform has its own proprietary DRM system:

• YouTube uses Content ID (CID), a system that automatically identifies copyrighted content in videos.
• Meta (Facebook and Instagram) employs Rights Manager to help creators track and manage their content.
• TikTok utilizes MediaMatch to identify copyrighted music and media in videos.

Each of these platforms has specific eligibility requirements for content to be managed by their systems, ensuring that only appropriate, fully licensed material is protected. Understanding these systems is crucial for artists and rights holders who distribute their music through digital platforms.

What kind of content is eligible for platforms with DRM systems?

In order for your content to be eligible to send to YouTube Content ID, Meta (Facebook/Instagram), and TikTok, you must either own all of the content exclusively or have exclusive licensing of it. Here's a chart to help outline: 

Please note that even if a beat is free or leased from a producer, it does not necessarily mean you have the exclusive rights to it. 

What kind of content is NOT eligible for DRM systems?

Public Domain Content

Public domain content is ineligible for DRM systems because it is publicly available and not exclusively owned by any one person or entity. 

Digital Rights Management tools like Content ID require exclusive ownership to prevent overlapping claims and ownership conflicts. 

Since public domain content, such as folk and traditional songs, religious hymns, and classical music, is not under copyright protection, anyone can use it freely. As a result, it cannot be registered in Content ID for monetization or rights enforcement.

Unlicensed Loops and Samples

Unlicensed loops and samples, such as those from television shows, anime, video games, sound effects like the Wilhelm Scream, commercial tunes, ringtones, and jingles, are ineligible for DRM systems because they are not exclusively owned by the user. 

Content like video game soundtracks, popular memes (e.g., Skibidi Toilet), and non-exclusive audio clips fall under this category. 

These elements are often widely used or licensed for multiple purposes, making it impossible to claim exclusive ownership. DRM systems require exclusive rights to avoid conflicts over ownership and usage, so unlicensed material cannot be registered. 

Non-exclusive beats or sounds

Non-exclusive beats or sounds are ineligible for DRM systems because they lack exclusive ownership. If a beat is advertised as "free to use" or can be purchased and used commercially by multiple artists, it no longer qualifies as exclusive content.

Similarly, content released under Creative Commons or other free or open licenses is also ineligible for DRM systems. These licenses allow anyone to use, share, or modify the work under certain conditions, which means the content is not under the exclusive control of a single creator or rights holder. Content ID requires exclusive rights to a piece of music or sound to prevent multiple ownership claims. When a beat, sound, or licensed content is widely available or used by different creators, it creates potential conflicts, making it ineligible for registration in the tool.

DJ mixes, full albums, and compilations

DJ mixes, full albums, and compilations are ineligible for DRM systems because they consist of multiple tracks combined into a single piece of content. DRM systems require that each reference submitted must be an individual piece of intellectual property with clear ownership. 

Since DJ mixes, albums, and compilations blend or combine several tracks, they do not meet the requirement for exclusive, singular ownership, leading to potential conflicts when identifying and enforcing rights. Therefore, such content cannot be registered in these tools.

"Soundalikes" or karaoke versions of songs

"Soundalikes" or karaoke versions of songs are ineligible for DRM systems because they are recreations or imitations of original tracks, rather than the original copyrighted recordings themselves. Content ID, and similar systems, are designed to detect and enforce rights on exclusive, original content, not cover versions or imitations. Since soundalikes and karaoke tracks do not possess unique intellectual property rights separate from the original, they cannot be registered. Additionally, their similarities to the original tracks could lead to false claims or conflicts over ownership, which the DRM systems aim to avoid.

Live versions of songs

Live versions of songs are ineligible for DRM systems because they often differ from the original studio recordings in performance, arrangement, and sound quality. These variations make it difficult for DRM systems to accurately identify and match the live version to a single, original copyrighted track. Content ID, and similar systems, require each reference to be a specific, individually owned piece of intellectual property. Live performances may also include additional elements like crowd noise or improvisations, which further complicate the identification process, making them unsuitable for registration in the tool.

Generic and common sounds and sound effects

Generic and common sounds, such as ASMR, non-musical content, speech, dialogue, meditation guidance, and white noise, are ineligible for DRM systems because they are not considered unique, protectable pieces of intellectual property. DRM systems are designed to detect and manage copyrighted material, but these types of sounds are often too common, widely available, or lacking in originality to qualify for exclusive ownership. As a result, they cannot be registered in the system, since doing so could lead to conflicts or false claims over content that is broadly used or not subject to copyright protection.

Similarly, sound effects, especially those that are widely recognized or commonly used in various media, are also ineligible for these systems. Sound effects like beeps, alarms, and other generic audio clips are often freely accessible and used in multiple contexts, making it impossible to establish exclusive ownership. Since they are frequently included in public libraries or open-source platforms, sound effects are considered too generic to be protected by DRM systems, further avoiding ownership disputes and false claims.

AI Content

AI-generated content is ineligible for DRM (Digital Rights Management) services on platforms like Meta, TikTok, and YouTube because it often lacks clear, exclusive ownership and may raise concerns about copyright originality. AI tools can generate music, art, or videos based on pre-existing data, which might include material created by others. This makes it difficult to determine if the resulting content is truly original or if it incorporates elements from copyrighted works.

DRM services require exclusive ownership and clear intellectual property rights to enforce protection, but AI-generated content often blends numerous sources or uses algorithms that are not tied to a specific owner. Additionally, AI content can be replicated or produced in massive volumes, complicating the ability to track or enforce rights effectively. As a result, platforms typically do not permit AI-generated content in their DRM systems to avoid ownership disputes and copyright conflicts.