contract-law music
Would a hypothetical anonymous musical be artist in violation of Spotify&#39;s Terms of Service?
<p>In Spotify's Terms of Service (specifically, Section 8: User guidelines, Statement #8.22 of <a href="https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/spotify-for-artists-terms-and-conditions/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/spotify-for-artists-terms-and-conditions/</a>), Spotify states that in uploading content to their services, you're expected to not impersonate or misrepresent your affiliation with another user, person, or entity, or engage in activity that is otherwise fraudulent, false, deceptive, or misleading.</p>

<p>If this is the case, then would a hypothetical anonymous musical artist be in violation of said agreement if the artist entered their songwriting credits (through a distributor) under their alias' name as this could be seen by some as a form of impersonation/misrepresentation?</p>

<p>Thank you in advance. </p>

<p><strong>End Users</strong></p>

<p>Spotify adds the songwriter names, so no. Spotify adding a songwriter name does not bound the artist to the contract you agree to when you sign up. </p>

<p>The terms of service apply to users signing up.</p>

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<p><strong>Artists</strong></p>

<p>Now that you have changed the link to the link for artists, yes using a pen name is misrepresenting yourself in a way. However I would think that if the music is published with the songwriter listed as the pen name, that it is not misleading, as in saying you are some artist when you are not.</p>

<p>The pen name is a made up person, so you can not impersonate a fictitious person and are therefore not violating the rules. </p>

<p>Tons of artists have pen names. John Bon Jovi's real name isn't that. He and plenty of others are on Spotify. They obviously do not care as long as you are not trying to say you are someone famous when you arent.</p>
