Discogs moves to improve platform by blocking the sale of unofficial releases

Online music marketplace Discogs is cracking down on unofficial remixes, edits and bootlegs by restricting the sale of such releases.

According to a statement Discogs’ chief operating officer Chad Dahlstrom provided to RA, the recent restrictions have been established in order to enforce it’s seller's agreement. The agreement, which has been for “a significant time”, clearly states that the sale of items which violate copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights is prohibited. This includes unlicensed bootlegs, edits and remixes.

Dahlstrom touched on how the company is evolving and is committed to improving its services: “Over the course of this year, we have continued to add resources allowing us to be more proactive in enforcing a policy that has been stated in our existing seller's agreement while also honouring DMCA takedown notices. We respond quickly to complaints, take down requests and are working closely with labels, publishers and artists to remove these items from our marketplace when they show up."

Although the unofficial records are prohibited from being sold on Discogs, they are still listed as part of the label catalogues.

"Our mission continues to be the building of the world's largest database and marketplace for physical music. To fulfill that mission we must protect our buyers and sellers, as well as our artists and record labels, with the same ferocity that we drive toward our mission as a company."

Harrison is Mixmag's East Coast Editor. Follow him on Twitter here