Use public-domain material

What this guide covers

Confirm that material is genuinely public domain in the places where you plan to distribute it.

Artwork and content review protects catalog quality and helps prevent rights, impersonation, and store-policy problems before delivery.

Before you start

• Use artwork you own or are authorized to use.
• Make sure text in the artwork agrees with the release metadata.
• Keep licenses or permissions for samples, covers, public-domain material, or third-party content.
• Confirm AI-assisted material does not violate identity, likeness, copyright, or store rules.

Step by step

1. 01

   Identify the exact composition, recording, text, or artwork you plan to use.

2. 02

   Verify public-domain status rather than relying on an informal claim online.

3. 03

   Separate public-domain composition rights from master-recording rights.

4. 04

   Keep your research or documentation available for review.

Check your work

• Artwork is square, clear, and not visibly compressed.
• There are no unauthorized logos, store badges, URLs, or misleading claims.
• Rights documentation is available if review asks for it.
• Explicit or sensitive content is represented accurately.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using an image found online without permission.
• Artwork text that names a different artist or title.
• Assuming a composition being public domain also makes a recording public domain.
• Using a sample without clearing the necessary rights.

What happens next

If review requests a revision, fix the specific issue on the existing release and resubmit rather than creating a duplicate.

If the result on screen does not match what this guide describes, stop before creating duplicate catalog records or repeating a financial action. Use the visible status and error information when contacting NORTH support.