GOTHIC STORM’S TOOLWORKS SOUND PACKS

EULA (END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT)

Note - our EULA terms are similar to most other sample libraries - we have no unusual restrictions.

Summary:

You can use these sounds in musical or percussion compositions, but not re-sell them as part of a sample library, sound effects library or sound design collection, either as they are, processed or layered with other sounds.

Buying these sound packs also doesn’t grant a license for use in isolation as video soundtracks (e.g. while editing trailers, promos, advertising, TV shows, movies, etc.). We do actually encourage this, but it needs a special sync & master license (contact tools@gothic-storm.com for details).

We also include advice below which is not legally binding, which is to avoid a single sound being totally exposed in the main mix, on its own, combined with nothing else or only other extremely quiet sounds. We strongly recommend this because if clearly identifiable hits or loops (from us or any company) are isolated and clearly audible, audio recognition software including YouTube’s ContentID can misidentify your track as another track which uses the same sound, resulting in copyright infringement and takedown notices for you, your clients and publishers. This isn’t a legal risk, but it can be a hassle and lead to lost earnings.

Full official wording:

END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT (EULA):

• USAGE: You are hereby licensed to use all Toolworks sounds purchased in our Sound Packs within Musical Contexts only, worldwide, in perpetuity.

• ‘MUSICAL CONTEXTS’ are defined here as recorded compositions, arrangements or remixes of music, percussion or other audio in which multiple sounds are combined for a duration exceeding 20 seconds. Tracks of 20 seconds or less are also accepted as a Musical Context if they are cut-down edits or stings (short hits) from a track over 20 seconds. Other short, creative works may be accepted too but please write to tools@gothic-storm.com for clarification. The goal here is not to restrict any creativity, only to avoid our sounds being re-packaged and sold in sound collections.

• SAMPLE LIBRARIES, SOUND EFFECTS & SOUND DESIGN COLLECTIONS: You are not authorized to use Toolworks sounds in any sample library product or sound effects. You are also not authorised to use these sounds in sound design collections, where individual short sounds such as booms, rises and drops are offered for licensing to movie trailer or other video editors. These sound collection restrictions include unchanged (as bought, in isolation), and also processed, manipulated or layered with other sounds.

• SINGLE USER: Use is restricted to the single purchaser of the sounds.

• USE IN AI TRAINING DATA: As with all non-musical contexts, you are not licensed to use these sounds in isolation as part of any AI training data. If they are used in a musical context however, whether such music can be used in training data would be the copyright owner’s decision, i.e. you, your publisher or record label.

• SHARING PERMISSION NEEDED: These sounds cannot be shared or distributed without the permission of Gothic Storm Limited.

• NO ISOLATED SYNC/MASTER USE: Since using these sounds isolated in a video (e.g. trailer, promo, TV show, advertising) is not a Musical Context, this use is not licensed by buying a sound pack. Contact tools@gothic-storm.com to obtain such a license.

• LICENSE INVALID IF TERMS ARE BROKEN: As with any EULA, this license is revoked if any of the above terms are not complied with, meaning that any music you make with this product would be in breach of copyright.

• LICENSE, NOT OWNERSHIP. Like all sample libraries and software purchases, this license is not a transfer of copyright to the purchaser – the ownership of the intellectual property within the sounds remains with Gothic Storm Limited.

Ask us if you’re not sure!

This EULA is designed to clarify typical uses but if you’re not sure, email tools@gothic-storm.com and ask!

NON-BINDING RECOMMENDATIONS:

You are not legally required to follow the advice below, but we think it’s useful to help you avoid automatic tune-detection issues, especially on YouTube.

The risk of a false detection caused by our sounds is actually low; you’re way more likely to get this problem with a musical loop or phrase sample, which we don’t sell.

• AVOID EXPOSED SOUNDS: Try to avoid single exposed sounds occurring in your mixes. By ‘exposed’ we mean a section of your track where one of our sounds is unchanged and has no other sounds audible at the same time, or only other extremely quiet sounds.

Instead, try to make sure there is also music or percussion, or at least two other sounds of ours or others layered together. Or, manipulate or process the sound to give it a novel, less recognisable character.

Doing this will help you to avoid audio recognition software (as used by YouTube and Performing Rights Organisations) accidentally matching your track with another track that uses the same exposed sounds and so misinterpreting your music as a copyright infringement.

It’s not that sounds have to be totally disguised and unrecognisable, but we’d recommend avoiding having one single sound out on its own with nothing else happening.

• EXPOSED SOUNDS IN STEMS SHOULD BE FINE: It’s even less likely that our sounds exposed in stems will ever trigger false detections. That said, it’s not impossible if isolated stems are used in something, so it does no harm to creatively layer and manipulate any loops or samples you use including ours, even in stems.