License Types
Royalty-Free (Included)A broad commercial-use license. Pay once (your plan) and use the exported track in unlimited projects without per-use fees. Subject to these Terms, Customer receives a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free license to reproduce, publicly perform, communicate, distribute, display, and monetize Customer’s exported audio in any media. No resale of raw, unmodified exports as standalone sound libraries or sample packs. Sample
Permission to sample/chop/re-record Soundverse audio inside a new work. Not for reselling raw sounds “as is.” Customer may sample, edit, transform, and incorporate exports into new musical works. Customer may not resell or distribute unmodified exports as individual sounds, loops, or construction kits. Content-ID claims may be asserted over the new derivative work, not over the unmodified export. Distribution (Included)
Rights to release the track to streaming stores, social platforms, and distributors (Spotify, Apple, YouTube, TikTok, etc.). Customer may deliver exported audio to digital service providers (DSPs), social platforms, and distributors and monetize releases. Non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual for exports made during an active plan. Registration, reporting, and platform policies are Customer’s responsibility. Sync
Rights to pair the track to picture (film/TV/ads/games/apps/podcasts/UGC campaigns). Typically per project/campaign. Customer may synchronize exported audio with audiovisual productions (including film, TV, ads, games, apps, podcasts, social campaigns) for the specified project/campaign. Non-exclusive, worldwide. Term may be perpetual or time-bound as designated by Customer at grant. Full Ownership
An exclusive buy-out of the master (and, where applicable, composition created on Soundverse) for that track. Best for catalogs, label deals, or high-stakes brand work. Upon purchase, Customer obtains exclusive worldwide ownership of the specific exported master (and, where applicable, the composition created on Soundverse). Soundverse retains no ongoing royalty interest. Model IP, software, and training assets are excluded. Customer may register Content ID and exploit/sublicense the master without restriction, subject to platform and legal requirements.
What each license lets you do (at a glance)
| Capability | Royalty-Free | Sample | Distribution | Sync | Full Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial use | ✅ | ✅ (within a new work) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Release to DSPs/social (Spotify/Apple/YouTube/TikTok) | ✅ | ✅ (as part of a new work) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Use “to picture” (film/TV/ads/games/apps) | ✅ (many clients still prefer Sync) | ✅ (as part of new work) | 🟡 Allowed but clients often require Sync | ✅ (designed for this) | ✅ |
| Exclusivity | ❌ Non-exclusive | ❌ Non-exclusive | ❌ Non-exclusive | ❌ Non-exclusive (per project) | ✅ Exclusive (track-level) |
| Resell/redistribute raw audio “as is” | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ (you control the master) |
| Make derivatives/remixes of your export | ✅ | ✅ (as new work) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Register Content ID/fingerprint | 🟡 Allowed for your finished track; not to block others using their own licensed copies | 🟡 Only over your new mixed work, not raw sample | 🟡 Allowed for your release; may not block others lawfully licensing the same base | 🟡 For the audiovisual asset only | ✅ You may assert exclusive claims |
| Sublicense to clients (e.g., brand/film) | ❌ (end-user license) | 🟡 Allowed as part of a deliverable; not a standalone sound license | ❌ (distribution ≠ sublicensing) | ✅ For that project/campaign | ✅ Broadly allowed |
| Term | Perpetual for exports made on an active plan | Perpetual for the new work | Perpetual for exports made on an active plan | Per project/campaign (perpetual or time-bound) | Perpetual |
| Territory | Worldwide | Worldwide | Worldwide | Worldwide | Worldwide |
Ownership & Earnings
Who owns what?-
Master (the audio file you export):
- Royalty-Free / Sample / Distribution / Sync: You own the master of the export you created.
- Full Ownership: You own the master exclusively.
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Composition (lyrics/melody/chords):
- If you authored them, you own the composition in all license types.
- If AI text tools helped, you have a license to use that text; you’re responsible for final editorial review.
- Soundverse takes no revenue share under these licenses. You keep 100% of earnings you collect from DSPs, social platforms, and clients (after any platform/distributor/collector fees).
- If a distributor or platform charges fees, those are the user’s responsibility.
Detailed FAQs
1) What’s the difference between Royalty-Free and Distribution?- Royalty-Free = broad commercial permission without per-use fees.
- Distribution = explicit rights to deliver your track to DSPs/social and monetize there.
- You can sample, chop, re-record, or substantially transform our exports inside your new composition.
- You cannot resell or share the raw sounds as a standalone pack, loop, or “construction kit.”
- Content ID: you may claim your finished new work, not the raw sample itself.
- Sync is designed for to-picture uses (film/TV/OTT/ads/games/apps/podcasts, etc.).
- It’s typically non-exclusive and project/campaign-specific.
- You (or your client) can store the license proof with the production files and cue sheets.
- When you require exclusivity (e.g., brand themes, trailer cues, catalog acquisition, library deals).
- You can sell or assign the master later, register Content ID exclusively, and generally exercise all owner controls (subject to platform rules).
- Model IP/weights are not transferred—only the track you exported.
- Royalty-Free/Distribution: Yes, for your finished track. You can’t use it to block other lawful licensees of their own independent exports.
- Sample: Only your new mixed/derivative track, not the underlying raw sample.
- Sync: You may register where appropriate for the audiovisual asset.
- Full Ownership: Yes, with exclusive control over the master.
- Royalty-Free/Distribution: Not as a standalone license. You can deliver the track in your project (e.g., a YouTube upload, album release), but you’re not selling a separate sound license.
- Sample: You may deliver a finished track/score to a client; you’re not granting them a reusable sample license.
- Sync: Yes—for that project/campaign; clients can exploit the audiovisual work that embeds the music.
- Full Ownership: Yes—exclusive master owner can sublicense broadly.
- Exclusive: Only Full Ownership.
- Non-exclusive: Royalty-Free, Sample, Distribution, Sync.
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Term:
- Royalty-Free / Sample / Distribution: Perpetual for any exports created while your plan was active.
- Sync: Per project/campaign (choose perpetual or time-bound).
- Full Ownership: Perpetual.
- Territory: Worldwide in all cases.
- Yes. All licenses allow you to modify your own exports.
- Sample specifically encourages transformation inside a new track.
- Only Full Ownership lets you then resell the raw master or package stems as you wish.
- Royalty-Free/Distribution/Sync/Sample: You may deliver stems as part of your project (mixing/mastering, collaboration, client deliverables). Don’t sell raw exports as a generic sample pack.
- Full Ownership: You control stem commercialization unless restricted by your downstream contracts.
- No. These licenses are royalty-free with respect to Soundverse. Platform/distributor/collection fees (e.g., DSP fees, YouTube rev share, PRO collections) may still apply.
- Broadcasters/venues/platforms may owe public-performance royalties under their own regimes. That’s separate from your Soundverse license and typically handled by platforms/PROs.
- Royalty-Free/Distribution/Sync: You may assign your master rights in your finished track, but you can’t confer greater rights than you hold (still non-exclusive; cannot convert into exclusivity).
- Full Ownership: You can sell/assign the master exclusively.
- No mandatory credit lines in this version of the licenses. You may credit yourself and Soundverse at your discretion.
- Who benefits: the songwriter(s)/publisher(s) of the composition.
- Which Soundverse licenses touch this: All of them, because once your music is out in the world, venues/platforms may generate performance royalties for the songwriters.
- What Soundverse licenses do not do: They don’t collect your composition royalties for you. They give you the right to create/export/monetize the recording (master) and, if you authored the song, you hold those writer rights.
- Your role: If you wrote the song, register with a PRO (e.g., ASCAP/BMI, PRS, GEMA, IPRS, etc.) so they know who to pay.
- Relevant Soundverse licenses: All. (Your license choice doesn’t change a broadcaster’s duty to pay PROs.)
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Master (sound recording):
- Under Royalty-Free, Sample, Distribution, Sync you own your exported master (non-exclusive).
- Under Full Ownership you own your master exclusively.
-
Composition (song):
- If you authored the lyrics/melody/chords, you own the composition in all license types.
- Soundverse licenses do not take your writer share.
-
Master income (recording): Streams/sales/platform rev shares, sync fees.
- Enabled by: Royalty-Free, Distribution, Sync, Full Ownership (and Sample when your new work is released).
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Composition income (songwriting): Performance + mechanical royalties to you as writer/publisher.
- Enabled by: Your authorship, regardless of Soundverse license. Register with PRO/MLC/publisher to get paid.
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Neighboring rights (recording broadcast performance): For certain radio/webcasts/non-interactive streams, master owners/featured performers may collect via societies like SoundExchange/PPL/SENA.
- Enabled by: Your master ownership (any Soundverse license where you own the master).
- Action: If you wrote the song, ensure you (or your publishing admin) are set up to collect.
- Soundverse: Licenses don’t interfere with your right to collect mechanicals.
- If you own the master (all Soundverse licenses grant you master ownership; Full Ownership grants exclusivity), you may register with the relevant societies and claim where eligible.
- Royalty-Free / Distribution / Sync: You can register your finished recording; don’t use it to block other lawful releases of independently created masters.
- Sample: You may claim the new derivative work, not the unmodified source export.
- Full Ownership: You may assert exclusive claims over your master, subject to platform rules.
- Originals you authored: You own the composition and the master (license-dependent for exclusivity). Register with PRO/MLC/publisher to be paid.
- Covers: You own the new master, but the composition belongs to the original writer/publisher. You’ll need a mechanical license for distribution in many territories (your distributor may provide tools).
- Royalty-Free / Distribution: End-user licenses—deliverables okay, but not a standalone re-licensing of the raw track.
- Sample: You can deliver your new track to a client; you’re not issuing them a reusable sample license.
- Sync: Built for project/campaign sublicensing (to exploit the audiovisual work).
- Full Ownership: You can broadly sublicense or assign the master.
- Pick the right license at export (Distribution/Sync/Full Ownership as needed).
- Register your songs with your PRO (and publisher/admin if you have one).
- Ensure ISRC (recording) and work registrations (ISWC when available) are in place.
- For visual media, make sure cue sheets are filed by the production.
- For covers, secure mechanical licenses where required.
- For third-party samples, clear master + composition from those rightsholders.
- If eligible, enroll with neighboring-rights societies (e.g., SoundExchange/PPL).
- Royalty-Free (Included): Broad commercial use of your master. You keep earnings. Performance/mechanical royalties for the composition are collected via PRO/MLC (if you’re the writer).
- Sample: You can transform our exports in a new work; monetize the new track. Composition royalties flow to the new work’s writers; you can’t resell raw sounds “as is.”
- Distribution (Included): Explicit right to release/monetize on DSPs/social. Platform/venue performance royalties still flow to songwriters via PROs.
- Sync: Project/campaign rights to pair your master to picture. Cue sheets trigger songwriter performance royalties; you keep master fees.
- Full Ownership: Exclusive control of your master (takedowns, exclusive deals, CID control). Composition performance royalties remain with the writers.
Difference between owning the master and Owning the master exclusively
- Owning the master = you own that recording, can monetize it, license it, and collect revenue. But the ownership is non-exclusive—others may also own and exploit their recordings (or even the same recording, if they acquired rights separately), and you generally can’t stop them.
- Owning the master exclusively = you are the only party allowed to exploit that recording. You can block others, issue takedowns, do exclusive deals, and register/enforce Content ID without carve-outs.
| Topic | Master (non-exclusive) | Master (exclusive) |
|---|---|---|
| Who can exploit the recording? | You and any other rightsholders | Only you (unless you sublicense) |
| Can you stop others from releasing the same recording? | No | Yes (takedowns/claims) |
| Content ID / fingerprinting | Allowed for your release, but you can’t block lawful parallel owners | You can register and enforce exclusively |
| Sync deals (ads/films/games) | Usually non-exclusive; brands may hesitate | You can grant exclusive syncs (often higher fees) |
| Resale/assignment of the master | Yes, but you transfer only your non-exclusive interest | Yes, you can sell/assign full exclusive rights |
| Price/value to buyers | Lower (others can compete with identical/near-identical tracks) | Higher (scarcity + control) |
| Typical use | Regular artist releases, social, non-exclusive libraries | Brand anthems, trailers, catalog buys, high-stakes syncs |
If you just need to release and monetize, non-exclusive master ownership is fine. If you (or a client) need control and scarcity. e.g., “no one else can use this exact recording”—you want exclusive master ownership.
Enterprise usage models (what’s allowed)
A1) Internal content ops (in-house use)- ✅ Use the API to generate/export music for your own products, campaigns, shows, apps, channels.
- ✅ Store and version exports in your DAM/asset pipeline.
- ✅ Edit/mix/master/derive new works from your exports (per license).
- ❌ No redistribution of raw, unmodified exports as libraries, one-shots, loops, or construction kits (unless you hold Full Ownership and your downstream contract allows it).
- ✅ Create deliverables for named client projects.
- ✅ Pass-through Sync rights for the specific production or campaign.
- ✅ Deliver Distribution-ready masters to your client’s distributor account.
- ❌ Do not sell a standalone “sound license” to the raw export under Royalty-Free/Distribution/Sample; you’re delivering a project, not a reusable library.
- ✅ With Full Ownership, you may assign/sublicense exclusivity as negotiated.
- ✅ Use the API to power user features (e.g., UGC creator tools, game music, short-form creation) so long as the end-user’s license matches the intended use (Distribution vs Sync vs Sample).
- ✅ Cache thumbnails/previews and store full-resolution exports created by your users.
- ❌ Do not expose raw exports as a public, searchable “sound library” for third parties to download “as is,” unless you own Full Ownership and your TOS reflect that.
- ❌ No model extraction, benchmarking-to-copy, or model weight access.
- ❌ No training or fine-tuning of any model on Soundverse outputs.
- ✅ Full Ownership tracks may be listed, sold, sublicensed, or assigned exclusively.
- 🟡 Sync can be re-licensed per project (non-exclusive), not as a reusable library SKU.
- ❌ Royalty-Free/Distribution/Sample exports cannot be resold “as is” as a stock library.
License-by-license: enterprise do’s & don’ts
B1) Royalty-Free (Included) Do:- Use in unlimited internal/external projects; distribute releases; monetize across channels.
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Register Content ID for your finished recording (not to block lawful parallel owners).
Don’t: - Resell raw exports as libraries/kits.
- Sublicense a general “sound license” to third parties (project deliverables are fine).
- Sample/chop/re-record exports into a new composition for your client/product.
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Monetize the new work; register CID for the new work only.
Don’t: - Sell/share the raw sample “as is.”
- Claim CID over the unmodified source export.
- Deliver to DSPs/social; use your metadata/ISRC; handle reporting with your distributor.
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Allow artists on your roster to release masters you produced with the API.
Don’t: - Treat Distribution as a right to sublicense raw audio to third parties.
- Grant to-picture rights per production/campaign (film/TV/OTT/ads/games/apps/podcasts).
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Keep license proofs, cue sheets, and project IDs in your production archive.
Don’t: - Convert Sync into a general library right or exclusivity (unless purchased separately).
- Assert exclusive control: takedowns, exclusive brand deals, CID enforcement.
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Sell/assign/sublicense the master, package stems, monetize as catalog.
Don’t: - Assume transfer of any model IP, data, or weights (not included).
Sublicensing patterns (enterprise scenarios)
- Brand campaign: Use Sync for the campaign (perpetual or time-bound). If the brand requires “nobody else can ever use this recording,” upgrade that track to Full Ownership.
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Production music library:
- Non-exclusive shelf: Use Sync per project at checkout; no bulk raw downloads.
- Exclusive shelf / catalog sale: Use Full Ownership titles only.
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UGC creator platform:
- End-user owns their master under Distribution (and Royalty-Free).
- You can’t let users re-upload raw exports as stock loops to third-party stores.
Attribution, credits, and metadata (enterprise)
- Attribution: Not mandatory in this version of the licenses. You may co-brand/credit at your discretion or per your house style.
- Metadata hygiene: Assign ISRC for masters; register works to collect composition royalties via PRO/MLC (if you authored).
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Content ID:
- Royalty-Free/Distribution/Sync → register your finished asset; don’t block lawful parallel owners.
- Sample → register only the new derivative work.
- Full Ownership → exclusive enforcement allowed, subject to platform policies.
Data governance, security & compliance
- PII & customer data: Do not send sensitive PII in prompts/metadata. Restrict API inputs to content necessary for audio generation and asset tagging.
- Caching & storage: You may cache outputs your org or users created. Do not cache or attempt to infer any underlying model parameters.
- Audit & logging: You may log prompts/exports for compliance; secure logs as confidential.
- No training on outputs: Enterprise is prohibited from using Soundverse outputs as training data for any model (internal or external).
- Benchmarking: Reasonable internal QA is fine; publishing head-to-head benchmarks intended to deconstruct or copy model behavior is prohibited.
- Export controls & sanctions: You are responsible for compliance with applicable export/sanctions regimes for your territory and users.
- Content policy: You are responsible for moderating your app/workflows so downstream use remains lawful and compliant with platform rules and ad standards.
SLA, support, and change management
- API keys & environments: Use separate sandbox and production keys. Rotate keys regularly; do not embed keys in public clients.
- Uptime/SLA: Enterprise plans include target uptime and response-time objectives (defined in your Order Form/SLA).
- Versioning: We publish versioned endpoints. Breaking changes are posted with deprecation windows; you must migrate within the window.
- Rate limits: Set in your plan; contact us for burst allowances around major launches.
- Support: Priority channels for P0 incidents, plus scheduled solution-architect sessions for integration reviews.
Payments, reporting, and taxes
- Revenue share: Soundverse takes no revenue share on license types described here; you retain earnings from DSPs/clients (net of their fees).
- Taxes & filings: You handle applicable taxes, cue sheets, PRO registrations, and distributor reporting.
- Third-party fees: Distributor/platform/collection-society fees are your responsibility.
Termination & survival (enterprise specifics)
- Exports already made: Licenses for exports created during an active plan survive termination per their terms (e.g., Distribution → perpetual for those exports; Sync → as granted for the project; Full Ownership → perpetual exclusive).
- Access: API access ceases at end of term; keys are revoked.
- Data: You may retain your exports and internal logs. Do not retain any confidential SDK materials or bypass access after termination.
Quick “Can we…?” matrix
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| White-label Soundverse inside our app? | ✅ Yes, as an embedded feature powering your users’ exports; follow license mapping per user action. |
| Offer a “sound library” for download? | ❌ Not with Royalty-Free/Distribution/Sample. ✅ Only with Full Ownership titles you control. |
| Sell exclusive tracks to brands? | ✅ Yes, with Full Ownership. |
| Auto-claim YouTube for our users? | 🟡 Possible for finished assets per license; ensure you don’t block other lawful owners. |
| Use outputs to train our model? | ❌ Not permitted. |
| Share API keys with subcontractors? | 🟡 Only under your control and NDAs; you remain liable. Prefer service-account scoping and per-vendor keys. |
| Host the Soundverse model on-prem? | ❌ Not included. On-premise/isolated options require a separate agreement. |