In accordance with applicable copyright regulations and the editorial policies of major digital distribution channels, UMW Recordings Inc. advises that content deemed to be in the “public domain” may be rejected by some DSPs (Digital Service Providers) , regardless of its legal status in certain territories.
What is public domain content?
Public domain content is understood to be any musical, audio, or audiovisual work whose copyright has expired or that was never protected by exclusive rights, in accordance with the intellectual property laws of the corresponding country.
Common examples:
Modern interpretations of classical works (Mozart, Bach, Beethoven).
Re-recordings of hymns or traditional songs without any new creative elements.
Readings or performances of literary works without current authorship.
Platforms that do not accept public domain content
The following DSPs have adopted policies prohibiting the publication of content derived solely from public domain works , due to:
Difficulties in verifying rights.
Avoid automatic identification conflicts (Content ID).
Protect the end-user experience.
DSP / Channel | State versus public content |
Apple Music / iTunes | ❌ Rejected |
Spotify | ❌ Rejected |
Pandora | ❌ Rejected |
YouTube Music / Content ID | ❌ Rejected |
Facebook / Instagram / Meta | ❌ Rejected |
TikTok | ❌ Rejected |
SoundExchange | ❌ Rejected |
AGEDI (Spain) | ❌ Rejected |
Audible Magic | ❌ Rejected |
BMAT | ❌ Rejected |
Other global channels | ⚠️ Case-by-case review |