Sverrir Bergmann Magnússon calls for music copyright protection in political ads

Sverrir Bergmann Magnússon, a substitute member of parliament for the Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin), has raised concerns regarding the unauthorized use of music in political propaganda on social media.

Speaking at Althingi, Magnússon highlighted that political parties must better respect the rights of authors and performers when using music in promotional materials. He noted that during recent national referendums, music was used to bolster political messages, questioning whether the necessary permissions had been obtained from creators and owners.

Magnússon emphasized the distinction between the right to a musical work and the right to a specific recording, noting that a license for one does not automatically cover the other. He warned that using well-known songs or voices can imply an artist's endorsement of a political cause, which may infringe upon an individual's right to choose how they associate with political struggles. He called for political parties to establish common guidelines to ensure all necessary licenses are secured before publishing promotional content.