Up to 100% savings on your music licensing fees*
Play music entirely generated by artificial intelligence in your venue, for free. Enjoy a music catalogue designed for professional playback, with no mandatory subscription on the Access plan, and documentary assistance should you challenge SPRE.
* Potential savings. The absence of SACEM authors' rights depends on the nature of the creations and the absence of third-party rights. Liability to SPRE remains legally uncertain and may be challenged by the venue. See the detailed conditions below and article 11 of the Terms of Use.
Three advantages
Music entirely generated by AI
A music catalogue composed and produced by artificial intelligence, with no human performer.
Potential savings on music licensing fees
Creations entirely generated by AI, with no protectable human creative contribution, are in principle not protected by copyright. The question of SPRE equitable remuneration is separate and may be legally challenged.
Assistance if you challenge SPRE
Newphonia provides technical evidence, legal documentation and template letters to help you submit a reasoned challenge. A referral to a partner lawyer may be offered under the terms of the service.
How Newphonia works
- Music catalogue entirely generated by artificial intelligence.
- No human performer in the recordings.
- Pre-recorded music, streamed from Newphonia's servers.
- Catalogue available exclusively in the Newphonia Streaming app, with no individual distribution of tracks on traditional music platforms.
- App available free of charge to individuals and businesses (Access plan).
- Free service funded by audio advertisements between tracks (at most 4 per hour, 15 seconds each); the Premium plan, at €9.90 incl. VAT per month and per venue, removes them.
- Contractual authorisation for public playback of the catalogue, under the Newphonia licence (articles 6 and 11 of the Terms of Use).
Why is Newphonia music in a particular situation with regard to SACEM?
Newphonia's musical compositions are entirely generated by artificial intelligence, with no human creative contribution claimed.
Under French law, copyright protection requires an original creation attributable to a natural person.
On this basis, Newphonia's entirely artificial compositions should not give rise to SACEM authors' rights in respect of these compositions, provided that no protected third-party elements are included.
This analysis concerns the Newphonia catalogue only and does not release a venue from any rights due for other music, content or uses.
Is playback of Newphonia subject to SPRE?
SPRE collects the equitable remuneration provided for by article L.214-1 of the French Intellectual Property Code for certain public uses of phonograms.
Newphonia recordings have a particular feature: they are entirely generated by artificial intelligence, with no human performers.
This raises a specific legal question regarding the application of equitable remuneration.
Newphonia considers that there are arguments for contesting the liability of these recordings to SPRE.
However, this interpretation has not been definitively settled by case law applicable to this model. SPRE may maintain a payment claim and a court may consider the remuneration due.
Each venue therefore remains responsible for its legal obligations and free to challenge the amounts claimed.
Newphonia supports you with SPRE
If you receive an SPRE claim relating to the exclusive playback of our catalogue, Newphonia helps you prepare your file.
We provide the technical and documentary evidence needed to submit a reasoned challenge, as well as template letters and, under the terms of the service, a referral to a partner lawyer.
This assistance helps you submit a strong, well-argued challenge.
What we provide
- Official Newphonia certificate, sent automatically by email and available in the app: show it in case of inspection, attach it to any challenge.
- Technical presentation of the AI generation process.
- General legal argument on articles L.213-1 and L.214-1 of the French Intellectual Property Code.
- Template SPRE challenge letters.
- Available playback records.
- Referral to a partner lawyer where needed.
Limits
Newphonia helps you challenge the claim, but does not automatically cover SPRE arrears, interest, judgments, legal costs or lawyers' fees. Personalised legal advice and representation in court are the responsibility of legally qualified professionals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Newphonia free for businesses?
Yes. The Newphonia Streaming app is available free of charge, including for businesses, with the Access plan and under the terms of the licence. The service is funded by audio advertisements. The ad-free Premium plan costs €9.90 incl. VAT per month and per venue.
Which document should I show in case of an inspection?
Your official Newphonia certificate. It is sent to you automatically by email and is available at any time in the app. Show it if a collecting society (such as SACEM or SPRE in France) inspects your venue, and attach it to your letter if you challenge a claim.
Do I have to pay SACEM if I only play Newphonia?
Compositions entirely generated by AI with no protectable human creative contribution are in principle not subject to copyright. This analysis assumes in particular that no protected third-party elements are included, and does not cover other music or content played by the venue.
Do I have to pay SPRE?
Whether SPRE applies to recordings entirely generated by AI, with no human performer, is a legally debated question. A payment obligation remains possible.
Can I challenge an SPRE payment request?
Yes. A venue can submit a reasoned challenge to its liability. Such a challenge does not automatically suspend any payment obligation.
Does Newphonia help me challenge?
Yes. Newphonia offers documentary assistance and template letters. The precise terms of the assistance are set out in article 11.7 of the Terms of Use.
What happens if SPRE rejects my challenge?
SPRE may maintain its claim, start recovery proceedings and, where appropriate, go to court. Arrears, interest and costs may be due if the venue loses its case.
Does Newphonia guarantee 100% savings?
No. Savings can reach 100% where no SACEM or SPRE remuneration is legally due for the playback concerned.
What should I do if I receive a letter from a collecting society?
Do not ignore it. Check the period and the music sources concerned, then write to contact@newphonia.com with the subject "SPRE assistance", attaching the letter. We send you the certificate of origin, the technical presentation and a template reply. Meet the deadlines given: a challenge does not automatically suspend a payment obligation.
I already have a contract with SACEM or SPRE: what happens?
If you now play only the Newphonia catalogue, you can discuss amending or ending your contract with these societies, under its terms. Amounts remain due for past periods and for any other music played. Newphonia provides the supporting documents you need.
Does this information apply outside France?
No. The explanations about SACEM and SPRE concern France. In other countries, the rules and the collecting societies differ.
Can I play other music as well?
Yes, subject to the rights and obligations applicable to that other playback. The legal arguments relating to the Newphonia catalogue do not automatically extend to other music sources.
Legal documentation
Your official certificate is sent to you automatically by email and is available in the app. The other documents, dated and versioned, will be added there. They are written in French.
- Official Newphonia certificate Sent automatically by email and available in the app. Show it in case of inspection, attach it to any challenge. Sent by email · in the app
- SACEM legal note Copyright regime applicable to compositions generated with no human creative contribution. In preparation
- SPRE legal note Analysis of articles L.213-1, L.214-1 and L.214-5 of the French Intellectual Property Code, EU Directive 2006/115 and relevant case law. In preparation
- SPRE challenge template Letter to challenge your liability with reasoned arguments. In preparation
- Assistance procedure The steps to follow when you receive an SPRE payment request. In preparation
SPRE assistance
Have you received a request from SPRE or SACEM? Write to contact@newphonia.com with the subject "SPRE assistance", attaching the request and the name of your venue.
The explanations on this page concern France. They do not automatically apply to other countries.