You can now use music from some Pokémon games without calling copyright rage by Nintendo or the Pokémon Company – under certain circumstances. TPC has launched a Pokémon DP Sound Library that, as the name implies, allows you to use sounds from the original Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl game in personal project. For instance, you can include sound effects in a social media video, or even create your wedding soundtrack with a favorite theme. Background music is also allowed for any non-commercial events or personal websites.
You can also download music for personal use. The library site itself streams music if you just want to reminisce with a certain online radio station.
However, to say that there are tight restrictions would be an overstatement. The Pokémon Company has a strict ban on any commercial use – you can forget about selling a Pokémon-inspired game or remix album. You may not use the content for radio or television purposes, advertising or anything that implies affiliation with TPC. And did we mention you can’t use the media in anything that makes specific statements about “ideological, religious or political”? Add a requirement for a long copyright notice (163 characters or more than half the maximum Twitter post length) and you’ll probably just use Diamond and Pearl very little content.
The gesture is a start, however, and it shows the Pokémon Company is aware that using personal audio can do more for the company’s reputation than harm. With that said, we wouldn’t expect a significant change of heart. TPC’s regular partner is Nintendo recently slap GilvaSunner’s YouTube-based soundtrack channel with thousands of copyright blocks forced him to close it. We wouldn’t expect TPC to be more lenient for commercial uses, even if a library is available.
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