Austrian businesses face copyright warnings over social media music

Small businesses, self-employed people and influencers in Austria, including Salzburg, are receiving legal warnings over music used in short social media videos, ORF reported. Some demand substantial payments to settle alleged copyright violations.

Social media expert Karim Bannour said businesses have a more limited music selection than private users because music on business accounts must be cleared for commercial use. He advised companies to check and document licence terms carefully.

Music suggested by platforms such as TikTok and Instagram is not necessarily cleared for business use, Bannour said. He advised using music only when its licence permits it, or creating music with artificial intelligence as an alternative.

Austria’s Economic Chamber said it was aware of the warning-letter wave and urged businesses to review their published videos and obtain commercial music licences where needed. It recommends seeking legal advice if a company faces a claim, including to explore a possible settlement.