Copyright & DMCA Policy

1. Copyright Policy Overview

We respect the intellectual property rights of others and expect our users to do the same. This policy outlines:

• Ownership of AI-generated content
• User responsibilities regarding copyrighted material
• DMCA takedown procedures
• Counter-notice process
• Repeat infringer policy

2. Ownership of Generated Music

2.1 User Ownership

You own the copyright to music generated from your original prompts and lyrics.

This ownership includes:

• The right to download and use your generated music
• The right to modify or remix your generated music
• The right to distribute and publicly perform your music
• Commercial use rights (tier-dependent, see Section 2.3)

2.2 AI-Generated Content Considerations

Important legal considerations about AI-generated music:

• Copyright law regarding AI-generated content is evolving
• Some jurisdictions may not recognize copyright in purely AI-generated works
• Substantial human creative input (prompts, lyrics) strengthens copyright claims
• We do not guarantee copyright enforceability in all jurisdictions

2.3 Commercial Use Rights by Tier

• Free Tier: Personal, non-commercial use only
• Pro Tier: Full commercial use rights (monetization, streaming, sales)
• Creator Tier: Full commercial use rights including extended duration works

3. User Responsibilities

3.1 Prohibited Content in Prompts/Lyrics

You may NOT use our service to generate music containing:

• Copyrighted lyrics you don't own or have permission to use
• Trademarked brand names or slogans
• Content that infringes third-party intellectual property
• Samples or references to copyrighted musical works

3.2 Your Representations

By generating music, you represent that:

• Your prompts and lyrics are your original work or properly licensed
• You have the right to use any referenced material
• Your content does not infringe third-party rights
• You accept responsibility for any copyright claims

3.3 Public Gallery Content

When making songs public, you additionally confirm:

• The content is appropriate for public viewing
• You have rights to publicly share all elements
• The content complies with our Acceptable Use Policy

4. DMCA Safe Harbor Compliance

We comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and have implemented procedures to respond to claims of copyright infringement.

4.1 Designated Copyright Agent

Note: This agent must be registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.

5. DMCA Takedown Notice

5.1 How to File a Takedown Notice

If you believe content in our public gallery infringes your copyright, send a written notice to our DMCA Agent (above) containing:

1. Your Contact Information:
   • Full legal name
   • Mailing address
   • Email address
   • Phone number
2. Identification of Copyrighted Work:
   • Description of the copyrighted work you claim was infringed
   • If multiple works, a representative list
   • Copyright registration number (if applicable)
3. Identification of Infringing Material:
   • URL or specific location of the infringing content
   • Song ID or title in our public gallery
   • Sufficient detail for us to locate the material
4. Good Faith Statement:
   • "I have a good faith belief that use of the material is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law."
5. Accuracy Statement:
   • "The information in this notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, I am the copyright owner or authorized to act on behalf of the owner."
6. Physical or Electronic Signature:
   • Your handwritten signature (scanned) or electronic signature

5.2 Response Timeline

• We will review valid DMCA notices within 2-5 business days
• Compliant content will be removed or disabled promptly
• The posting user will be notified of the takedown
• User may file a counter-notice (see Section 6)

6. DMCA Counter-Notice

6.1 If Your Content Was Removed

If you believe your content was removed in error or misidentification, you may file a counter-notice to our DMCA Agent containing:

1. Your Contact Information:
   • Full legal name
   • Mailing address
   • Email address
   • Phone number
2. Identification of Removed Material:
   • Description of the removed content
   • Location where content appeared before removal
3. Good Faith Statement:
   • "I swear, under penalty of perjury, that I have a good faith belief that the material was removed or disabled as a result of mistake or misidentification."
4. Consent to Jurisdiction:
   • "I consent to the jurisdiction of the Federal District Court for the judicial district in which my address is located, or if outside the U.S., for any judicial district in which the service provider may be found."
   • "I will accept service of process from the person who provided the original DMCA notice or their agent."
5. Physical or Electronic Signature

6.2 Counter-Notice Process

• We will forward your counter-notice to the original complainant
• If no lawsuit is filed within 10-14 business days, content may be restored
• We reserve the right to refuse restoration if repeat infringer policy applies

7. Repeat Infringer Policy

7.1 Three-Strike System

• First Strike: Content removed, warning issued
• Second Strike: Content removed, 7-day suspension
• Third Strike: Permanent account termination

7.2 Strike Expiration

Strikes expire after 12 months of good standing (no new claims).

7.3 Appeal Process

You may appeal strikes by demonstrating:

• Original takedown was invalid or withdrawn
• You filed successful counter-notice
• You own rights to the disputed content

8. Attribution Requirements

8.1 ACE-Step Model Attribution

While not legally required, we encourage attribution when sharing or distributing music:

• "Generated with [Your Service Name] using ACE-Step AI"
• This helps promote AI transparency and supports the community

8.2 Mandatory Disclosures (Certain Platforms)

Some platforms (YouTube, Spotify, etc.) may require disclosure that content is AI-generated. You are responsible for compliance with platform-specific requirements.

9. Similarity & Non-Uniqueness

9.1 Similar Outputs

AI models may generate similar outputs for different users with similar prompts. This does not constitute copyright infringement by either user.

9.2 No Guarantee of Uniqueness

We do not guarantee that generated music will be:

• Unique or never created before
• Free from similarity to existing works
• Completely original in all elements

You are responsible for conducting your own copyright searches if uniqueness is critical.

10. Model Training & Your Content

10.1 We Do NOT Train on Your Music

We do not use your generated music to train AI models. Your output is yours.

10.2 Anonymized Metadata Only

We may use aggregated, anonymized metadata (e.g., "Rock songs average 3.5 minutes") for service improvement, but never your actual audio or lyrics.

11. Trademark Compliance

Do not use our service to generate content containing:

• Brand names, logos, or slogans you don't own
• Celebrity names or likenesses without permission
• Trademarked terms in a confusing or infringing manner

Trademark claims follow the same takedown process as copyright claims.

12. Misuse & Abuse

12.1 False DMCA Claims

Filing false or fraudulent DMCA notices is perjury and may result in:

• Criminal penalties
• Civil liability for damages
• Banning from our service

12.2 Reporting Abuse

To report abusive DMCA claims or other copyright-related abuse, email: abuse@yourdomain.com

13. International Copyright

This policy primarily follows U.S. copyright law (DMCA). Users in other jurisdictions may have different rights under:

• EU Copyright Directive
• UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act
• Berne Convention provisions

We will honor valid copyright claims under applicable international law.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Copyright Policy as laws and practices evolve. Material changes will be communicated via email or in-app notification.

15. Contact Information

For DMCA Notices: dmca@yourdomain.com

For General Copyright Questions: legal@yourdomain.com

For Abuse Reports: abuse@yourdomain.com