There are some cases where you can use other people’s work without getting permission. But if you want to use an effect that isn’t clearly for sale, you should reach out to the owner and ask permission. If you use sound effects you find on a marketplace, that platform will grant a license to use it upon purchase. The owner can sue you, which will definitely include the cost of the license, but may also include any damages or lost revenue they suffered. Using someone else’s work without a copyright license is theft. If you want to use someone else’s work (like podcast sound effects), you need a license to do so. This means you can’t grab any audio file you find on the web and slap it into an episode without getting permission from whomever owns the copyright. They can even sell a license that lets other people sell it (which is how a lot of stock photo/video/audio sites work). They can sell licenses to use it, give it away, or stop anyone from using.

Once someone has a copyright, they can do anything they like with it.

Works eligible for copyright protection by Drew University Library

Podcast sound effects free