Mixcloud is an online streaming service, focusing on user-generated content, primarily music. We operate a fair and legal service, with artists and creators at its core. Our policy of putting creators first means that everything we build is designed to give creators more control over their channel, their fans and their business.
Recent changes to copyright law have shifted the onus from rights-holders to identify infringement and issue takedown notices, to platforms to identify any infringements made by their users. This is even more challenging in a livestreamed context, as content should be identified in real-time.
None of the major platforms, such as Facebook, Twitch or Youtube have embraced these changes. Facebook has instead issued notice to users that they should not use the platform to create a "music listening experience'', with the threat of their accounts being deleted. YouTube and Twitch have effectively ignored the changes to the legal framework.
Mixcloud, uniquely, has had content ID and reporting baked in from the outset. Our platform automates the process of content recognition, and matching tracks to rights holders. This means our users can curate copyrighted music legally, and that the creators of that material get paid when their music gets played.
Management of copyright has been at the heart of what we do, and this enables user-generated content to legally make use of copyrighted material. For this reason Mixcloud stands out against competing platforms, who are increasingly applying filters to block copyrighted music.
This project builds on our Mixcloud Live service, creating new functionality and improving ease of use. Watch this space.