can someone explain to me imovie sound effects copyrights?

Icebox

Hello , there are many sound effects available on imovie software , i was wondering if its royalty free ? anyone used these sound effects in their games ? was there a problem using it ? I tried reading this but I did not understand , my english is not that good.

" You may use the Apple and third party audio content (“Audio Content”) contained in or otherwise included with the Apple software, on a royalty-free basis, to create your own original soundtracks for your video and audio projects. You may broadcast and/or distribute your own soundtracks that were created using the Audio Content, however, individual samples, sound sets, or audio content may not be commercially or otherwise distributed on a standalone basis, nor may they be repackaged in whole or in part as audio samples, sound files, sound effects or music beds "

i dont understand can someone tell me if its okay or not ? because it says you can and then it says may not be commercially on a standalone basis , what do they mean ?

thank you

jamie_c

I'm no lawyer but I interpret it this way...

If you use the sound effects in a song or other production you can distribute the work (song or production) as you see fit.

BUT you may not take the individual sound effect or loops and distribute that as a stand alone file.

As I said I'm no lawyer but I think if you used the sounds or loops in a game you're probably okay distributing that game.

KevinCross

You can use the sound effects in your project. I used a coin sound that was in Logic Pro X (another tool owned by Apple) for a game.

RabidParrot

You can use the file, just don't redistribute it.

Socks

Yep, as the others have said, you can use the sound in commercial products, there is no royalty to pay (nor a way of collectiong MCPS/ASCAP mechanicals from games even if there was a royality to be paid !).

The second part about . . . "individual samples, sound sets, or audio content may not be commercially or otherwise distributed on a standalone basis" . . . basically means you cannot sell (or otherwise distribute) the 'library' as a library . . . an equivalent in the games world would be that you can buy a template and use it to make anything you want, and sell your creation commercially however you like, but you cannot buy a template and then start selling that template (as a template), imagine how pissed off someone down at GSHelper or DBA would be if you were to buy one of their templates and then the next day the same template is for sale on your own website, that is what Apple is saying here, use this stuff to make what you want, but you can't sell the sounds as they are (as a library of sounds or as individual sounds).

Icebox

thanks everyone for replying , this is great , i didnt know that mac had sound effects in their laptops , and there are many ! im glad its free to use , thanks again

The_Gamesalad_Guru

@Icebox1910 said:
thanks everyone for replying , this is great , i didnt know that mac had sound effects in their laptops , and there are many ! im glad its free to use , thanks again

Yes GarageBand and Logic Pro have a host of great sound fx. I use them all the time.