The Open Music License Personal Use License (OML-P) is designed for hobbyists, students, emerging creators, and small-scale projects. It provides free access to music production assets while maintaining fair compensation requirements for creators.
- Free for Personal Use: No upfront costs for personal projects
- Revenue Threshold: Free for projects under $1,000 annual gross revenue
- Clear Attribution: Specific requirements for crediting creators
- Derivative Rights: Permission to modify, remix, and create new works
- Upgrade Path: Smooth transition to commercial licensing when needed
- Use the Work in your creative projects
- Reproduce the Work in any medium or format
- Modify the Work and create Derivative Works
- Distribute copies of the Work and Derivative Works
- Perform the Work publicly (including digital transmission)
- Display the Work in connection with your projects
- Monetize projects up to $1,000 gross revenue per year
- Remove, alter, or obscure copyright notices or attribution
- Claim authorship of the original Work
- Sublicense, sell, rent, lease, or transfer the Work as a standalone product
- Use in connection with illegal activities or hate speech
- Grant exclusive rights to the Work to any third party
- Use in ways that imply Creator endorsement without permission
- Register the Work as your own copyright or trademark
- Threshold: $1,000 USD cumulative gross revenue per rolling 12-month period
- Calculation: Includes all income from projects using the Work
- Grace Period: 30 days to obtain Commercial Use License after reaching threshold
- Currency: Converted to USD using XE.com exchange rates
- Advertising revenue
- Sponsorships
- Affiliate income
- Ticket sales
- Merchandise sales
- Streaming royalties
- Direct payments
- Crowdfunding proceeds (Patreon, Ko-fi, etc.)
- Licensing fees from third parties
- Any other monetary compensation
All uses must include:
- Creator's name as specified in the Work's documentation
- Title of the Work
- License statement indicating use under OML-P
- Creator URL (when technically feasible)
Minimum Required Format:
[Work Title] by [Creator Name] feat. [Attribution]
- Embed attribution in metadata fields (Title, Artist, Album, Comment, Copyright, Composer)
- Include in album liner notes or digital booklet
- Include in track descriptions on distribution platforms
- Include in video description with timestamp reference
- Display in end credits for minimum 3 seconds with legible text
- Include in YouTube description field near the top
- Use platform-specific credits features (Spotify Credits, Apple Music Contributor fields)
- Include in episode/track descriptions
- Include attribution in post caption or first comment
- Tag Creator's official account when appropriate
- Display on the same page where the Work is used
- Include in website footer or dedicated attribution page
- Verbal acknowledgment during or after performance, OR
- Written attribution in printed programs or event descriptions
- Include in episode show notes and/or description
- Verbal acknowledgment in the episode
- Create Derivative Works by modifying, remixing, sampling, or incorporating the Work
- Own the original elements and creative choices you contribute
- Distribute Derivative Works subject to license terms
- Clearly indicate that the Derivative Work contains or is based upon the original Work
- Provide complete attribution to the Creator
- Include statement: "Contains portions of [Work Title] by [Creator Name]"
- When distributing stems or isolated elements, each file must contain embedded attribution metadata
- Recipients are bound by the same License terms
- You may not present isolated stems as your own original creation
A Commercial Use License is required when:
- Your cumulative Gross Revenue exceeds $1,000
- You wish to grant sublicenses or exclusive rights
- You require warranties or liability protections
- You wish to use the Work without revenue tracking
- Contact the Creator using provided contact information
- Negotiate terms including royalty structure or flat fee payment
- Execute a Commercial Use License agreement
- Maintain records as required by the Commercial License
Your rights terminate automatically upon:
- Any violation of license terms
- Exceeding Revenue Threshold without obtaining Commercial License within grace period
- Failure to provide proper Attribution
Upon termination:
- All rights granted immediately cease
- You must cease all use, distribution, and public performance
- You must remove the Work from materials under your control
- Derivative Works created prior to termination may continue to exist
You have 15 days from becoming aware of Attribution or Revenue Threshold violations to cure the breach. If cured within this period, your License is automatically reinstated.
THE WORK IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. THE CREATOR MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES REGARDING:
- The accuracy, quality, or suitability of the Work
- The absence of third-party claims
- Compatibility with your systems
- Continued availability or support
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE CREATOR SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING FROM USE OF THE WORK, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES.
This License is governed by the laws of the jurisdiction where the Creator resides.
The Creator may publish revised versions. You may choose to use the Work under the version you originally obtained or any subsequent version.
By downloading, using, or accessing the Work, you accept and agree to be bound by the terms of this License.
When distributing the Work or Derivative Works, include:
Licensed under the Open Music License (OML) Personal Use License v1.0.
Full license terms available at [LICENSE_URL]
For questions about this License or to obtain a Commercial Use License, contact:
[Creator Name]
[Creator Email]
[Creator Website]
This license is designed to balance open collaboration with fair creator compensation. It is based on established open-source principles and music industry practices as of October 2025.