You spend hours, sometimes days, crafting the perfect beat. Then suddenly, you hear a piece of it in someone else’s song. No credit. No payment. No permission.
If your beat has been sampled without your consent, here’s what you need to know and do.
1. Confirm It’s Your Beat
Before taking action, confirm that your beat is being used without a proper license. Ask yourself:
- Is the sample recognizable and copied directly from your audio?
- Is it a re-creation or interpolation of your melody, rhythm, or production?
- Do you have the original files and timestamps showing you created the beat first?
Even a few seconds of your work being used can trigger copyright protections.
2. Gather Your Evidence
Start compiling all proof that the beat is yours and that it was used without permission. This might include:
- Original session files (DAW project, stems, etc.)
- Screenshots of upload/release dates (e.g., BeatStars, YouTube, Spotify, SoundCloud)
- Copyright registration (if you have one)
- A copy or link to the song that used your sample
The more organized your evidence is, the stronger your case will be.
3. Don’t Post About It, Yet
It might be tempting to call them out online, but resist the urge to go public right away. Public accusations can make legal resolution harder and potentially expose you to defamation claims if you’re wrong.
Instead, let a lawyer handle the communication so that the dispute stays professional and on record.
4. Speak to an Attorney
Sampling without permission is copyright infringement, plain and simple. You have the right to demand:
- Credit
- Payment
- Removal of the song
- Statutory damages (which can be substantial if the work is registered)
An attorney can:
- Send a formal cease-and-desist letter
- Contact the artist, label, or distributor
- Help you negotiate a retroactive license or settlement
- File a lawsuit if needed
5. Consider Filing a Copyright Registration
If you haven’t registered your beat with the U.S. Copyright Office, you still own the copyright—but registering unlocks the right to sue and collect statutory damages (up to $150,000 per infringement) and attorney’s fees.
Registering can be done before or after infringement, but doing it before gives you more leverage.
6. Issue a Takedown Notice (If Necessary)
If the song is posted on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, or another platform, and you’re not being paid or credited, your lawyer can help you issue a DMCA takedown notice to have the song removed (if required).
Just be sure the use is truly unauthorized before sending a takedown, filing one improperly can result in legal pushback. Also, it may not be beneficial for you to remove the work depending on your leverage.
Final Thoughts
If your beat has been sampled without permission, you don’t need to sit back and accept it. You can take action and you should. Producers deserve to be respected, credited, and paid for their work.
Need Help?
If someone sampled your beat without permission, contact Landry Legal at 888-914-0011 or email contact@landrypllc.com for help enforcing your rights. We help producers get credit, compensation, and justice.
