Freesound Forums

Over the years I have recorded some truly odd amateur radio broadcasts - some of these are blips and bloops, some are human voices, some are encrypted data or code.

I have recorded them in some instances with my own radio hardware, and sometimes online using public-controlled receivers. I have even composed music by manipulating the modulation and other band controls into something that made a broadcast sound like a tune.

The freesound FAQ says "If you recorded the radio or television, [...], the broadcast you recorded is copyrighted by the entity broadcasting". While that is true, shortwave radio is not the same as FM radio, where corporations make broadcasts.

I suspect I might get answers related to state, country, or regional law. However, the majority of the broadcasts I record are not based in the United States or the UK. Sometimes I am not even sure where they are from, since language cannot really be the indicator of broadcast location. And similarly, while I do live in the USA, I frequently record from other countries while traveling. So really I am looking for whether or not they are okay on this site.

Hello,

The little I can help is I have those links :
https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/interception-and-divulgence-radio-communications
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/47/605

And that Freesound does not allow Music, podcasts, audiobooks, adverts/commercials, songs.

A few personal takes :
1) Encrypted data/codes shouldn't be shared due to not knowing the underlying content behind encryption.
2) If LAW mentions that transmissions implies a public speaking and no privacy over the transmitted content. We should still be careful not to publish sensitive information or "private" discussions. Doing so in foreign languages will be challenging.
Even if the discussion isn't sensitive / private, recordings couldn't be uploaded in their entirety due to the podcast/audiobook not being accepted on freesound. One would need to cut to individual phrases or words, random sounds, giggles laughs etc...
Even then, I would personally avoid publishing recognisable voices if the person isn't aware of being recorded and shared online, even if they waived any expectations of privacy by actively broadcasting their voice.

(All that is going in the theory that LAW could waive rights of privacy by Radio over radio transmission. Maybe it doesn't. Maybe there's some other laws in place when it comes to privacy and sharing recordings. I don't know all those aspects

3) Even if the transmission type were not to assume copyright over all transmitted content. I suspect one could transmit copyrighted content, such as their own songs, other people's songs, a poem, story etc...

All in all,
I think it would be a large minefield where only short blips bloops, and static noise would be safe material. Using the Radio as an instrument and recording that, rather than sharing recordings of the radio if that nuance makes sense.

I'm not knowledgeable on the subject, nor am I a licenced radio operator, nor am I a lawyer, just a dude in his bedroom with some thoughts.

I have sent a DM to a user who should know a thing or two. Hope they shine in
Thanks for your time, bringing up the subject, and contribution to the community!

In general;
In the case of conversations on amateur radio, no copyrights apply. Copyrights are mainly relevant to music, literature and other creative works. Conversations on amateur radio usually involve personal communication and technical exchanges, where copyright does not play a role.

You said that you recorded them from radio amateur bands. In Finland, the law and the radio amateur rules says that is not allowed to record any conversations. Static noises are different story, but the conversations are highly restricted. So, I suggest that you check your country law before posting any material. You can also edit the material to point where it can't be indentified as speech and then upload it. I still suggest that you record only the static noises, not any real traffic between amaterus, because that might be against the law and rules.