How Does SoundCloud Obtain Publishing Clearances?

Section 115: Notice of Intent to Obtain a Compulsory License

• Provides a compulsory license to SoundCloud to distribute recordings, once a recording of a work has been distributed to the public in the US under authority of the copyright owner
• Subject to certain terms and conditions of use
• Includes the right of the compulsory licensee (SoundCloud) to distribute/authorize the distribution of a recording of a musical work by means of a digital transmission (which constitutes a digital delivery)

The publishing clearance process has two main steps

Due to the compulsory license in the U.S., notice is enough.

1. Identify and confirm the publisher
2. Notify the publisher of the intent to monetize (NOI)