Yes, the song "Believer" by Imagine Dragons is copyrighted. It is protected under copyright law from being used without permission. This means that both the musical composition (the melody and lyrics) and the specific sound recording of the song are legally owned by their respective creators and rights holders.
What Copyright Protection Means for "Believer"
Copyright grants exclusive rights to the creators and owners to control various aspects of the song's use. For a popular song like "Believer," these rights typically include:
- Reproduction: The right to make copies of the song.
- Distribution: The right to sell or otherwise make copies available to the public.
- Public Performance: The right to perform the song publicly (e.g., on radio, in a venue, or online).
- Derivative Works: The right to create new works based on the original song (e.g., remixes, adaptations, or new arrangements).
- Public Display: The right to show the lyrics or sheet music publicly.
Practical Implications for Using "Believer"
Because "Believer" is copyrighted, obtaining permission is generally required for many uses beyond personal, private listening. Using the song without permission can lead to copyright infringement, which may result in legal action, financial penalties, or removal of your content.
Examples of situations where permission or a license is typically needed include:
- Using the song in a tribute video, fan-made animation, or any other video project intended for public viewing on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, or Vimeo.
- Playing the song publicly in a commercial setting, such as a restaurant, retail store, gym, or during a public event.
- Creating covers or remixes of the song that you intend to share publicly, distribute, or monetize.
- Synchronizing the song with visuals for use in advertisements, films, television shows, or video games.
- Using lyrics from the song in published works, merchandise, or other commercial products.
How to Legally Use Copyrighted Music
To legally use a copyrighted song like "Believer" in ways that require permission, you generally need to:
- Obtain a License: This involves contacting the copyright holders and negotiating a license agreement. For music, this often means securing a license from the music publisher (for the composition) and the record label (for the sound recording).
- Pay Royalties: Licenses typically involve fees or ongoing royalty payments, which compensate the copyright holders for the use of their work.
- Understand Fair Use/Fair Dealing: While certain limited uses might fall under doctrines like fair use (in the U.S.) or fair dealing (in other countries), these are specific legal exceptions with strict criteria and should not be assumed without careful consideration or legal advice. Most commercial or extensive uses do not qualify as fair use.
