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Limited Quantity Licensing |
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The HFA website provides answers to commonly asked questions about mechanical licensing and other related inquiries
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I want to manufacture less than 25 copies of my CD, cassette, or vinyl album, or I think there will be less than 25 downloads of my version of the song. Do I still need a license? |
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Yes, it is required under U.S. Copyright Law. This is how the publisher - and ultimately, the songwriter - gets compensated for the use of their song.
HFA licenses for a minimum of 25 units of physical products (CDs, cassettes, and vinyl), or 25 permanent digital downloads (PDDs). You can apply for these licenses quickly and easily using
Songfile and pay with a credit card (MasterCard, Visa, or American Express) or from your checking account.
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But I'm only making a few copies/giving the CDs away/not making much money. Isn't that "fair use"? |
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No. Making a limited number of copies or giving away CDs is not "Fair Use". "Fair Use" is a limitation on the rights granted under U.S. Copyright Law that allows reproduction of a copyrighted work for certain purposes, such as criticism, news reporting, teaching, and research. The distinction between "Fair Use" and infringement is often not clear and it may be advisable to consult an attorney. Willful copyright infringement can carry statutory damages up to $150,000 per infringement; but perhaps more importantly, if you liked the song enough to include it on your recording, don't you think the people that wrote that song should get paid? |
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I obtained my license through HFA's Songfile®, and my license states that it's limited to a certain number of copies. Do I need to apply for a new license if my distribution goes beyond that number? |
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Yes. You can obtain additional licenses through Songfile in quantities of up to 2,500 units. |
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What if I want to distribute more than 2,500 copies? |
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If you want to license more than 2,500 at one time and report and pay your royalties on a quarterly basis, please apply for an HFA Licensee Account. | |
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