Can I use copyrighted music on my website in Illinois? What are the requirements?

Based on the documents provided, the Music Licensing Fees Act ^[1.2] and the Music Therapy Licensing and Practice Act ^[2.6] are the relevant laws in Illinois regarding music use on websites and the licensing of music therapists, respectively.

Regarding the use of copyrighted music on a website, the Music Licensing Fees Act ^[1.2] establishes that performing rights societies, such as the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), and SESAC, Inc., can license the public performance of nondramatic musical works on behalf of copyright owners. Proprietors, which include owners of retail establishments, restaurants, inns, bars, taverns, or any other similar place of business located in Illinois in which the public may assemble and in which nondramatic musical works may be performed, broadcast, or otherwise transmitted, are required to pay license fees, or royalties, to performing rights societies for the public performance of nondramatic musical works ^[1.3].

Therefore, if you want to use copyrighted music on your website, you may need to obtain a license from a performing rights society and pay the corresponding royalties.

However, the documents provided do not specify the requirements for obtaining a license or the consequences of using copyrighted music without a license. For more information, you may want to consult a legal expert or contact a performing rights society directly.

In summary, to use copyrighted music on your website in Illinois, you may need to obtain a license from a performing rights society and pay royalties. For more information, please consult a legal expert or contact a performing rights society directly.

Source(s):

• [1.2] 815 ILCS 637/1
• [1.3] 815 ILCS 637/5
• [2.6] 225 ILCS 56/1

Jurisdiction

Illinois

• Privacy