---
title: What happens if I get caught when illegally streaming copyrighted music?
description: Streaming copyrighted music for commercial goals without the consent of the artist, copyright owner, or recording company is illegal. If you do it anyway, you may have to pay fines.
---

 illegal-music-streaming

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# What happens if I get caught when illegally streaming copyrighted music?

Streaming copyrighted music for commercial purposes without the artist’s or rights holder’s permission is illegal.

If caught, rights holders or their representatives can take legal action. This may result in:

- **Lawsuits and fines**
- **Court orders to pay damages** or costly out-of-court settlements
- **Liability for actual or statutory damages**

Playing unlicensed music can be expensive and risky — from the other hand, **using royalty-free services like Moodby ensures you’re fully protected**.

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