Copyright Infringement Policies & Dispute Resolution

Copyright infringement occurs when protected works, such as sound recordings, musical compositions, or cover artwork, are copied, distributed, or otherwise used without authorization from the rights holder. Using an artist's name or likeness without permission can also violate trademark, personality, or other rights, and stores treat it just as seriously.

At DistroVibe, we enforce strict compliance standards to safeguard intellectual property rights across the global music ecosystem.

This article explains our policies; it is not legal advice.

How Copyright Infringements Are Handled on DistroVibe

• Infringement Notification: If a rights holder or digital service provider (DSP) files a copyright claim against your catalog, you will be notified by email. The notice identifies the affected release and includes a copy of the claim.

• Royalty Freezes & Account Holds: Royalties associated with the disputed release or track are frozen while the claim is resolved. Under our Terms and Distribution Agreement, DistroVibe may also freeze wallet payouts or withhold balances where a copyright claim, DMCA notice, or ownership dispute requires it.

• Store-Level Content Takedowns: When a complete, verified notice is received, DistroVibe sends removal requests to the affected stores (such as Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube). Stores may also remove content directly when they receive a claim themselves.

• Counter-Notification: If you believe your content was removed by mistake or misidentification, or you hold a valid license, you can submit a counter-notification through our online form at distrovibe.com/dmca or by email to legal@distrovibe.com. A counter-notification is a formal legal statement made under penalty of perjury, so only submit one if it is accurate. We forward it to the claimant; if the claimant does not start legal proceedings within 10 to 14 business days, we inform the stores that the dispute has concluded on our side. Whether and when content is restored is decided by each store, so reinstatement cannot be guaranteed.

• Resolving Disputes with Claimants: You can also resolve the claim directly with the claimant. If the claimant withdraws their notice or provides written clearance, send documentation of the retraction to legal@distrovibe.com.

• Proof of Ownership & Chain of Title: If our team requests chain-of-title documentation, you must provide verifiable proof of authorization, such as:

  • Signed split sheets and producer agreements.

  • Sample clearance licenses or master purchase agreements.

  • Copyright registration certificates.

  • Uncompressed DAW session files, stems, or creation logs.

• DistroVibe's Role: DistroVibe acts as a distributor; we cannot act as a legal arbiter or provide legal advice. If you need help with a complex rights dispute, we advise consulting an intellectual property attorney.

Three-Strike Repeat Infringer Policy

Confirmed copyright infringements result in strikes on your account:

• Strike 1 (Warning): You receive an official infringement warning, and the disputed content is removed from stores.

• Strike 2 (Upload Restriction): Your account is restricted from submitting new releases for distribution.

• Strike 3 (Suspension): Your account is suspended and closed. Takedowns are issued for your entire catalog, and accrued royalties may be withheld to cover legal costs, DSP penalties, and damages.

If you believe a strike was issued in error, contact legal@distrovibe.com.

Other Platform Infringements & Content Violations

Digital service providers, social platforms, and channel networks enforce their own editorial and safety standards. Stores may remove content in the following circumstances:

• Artist Relationship & Unauthorized Association: If a streaming platform or partner channel receives complaints regarding an artist's likeness, unapproved name association, or unauthorized features, it may take down the release.

• Brand Protection & Harmful Content: DSPs may remove content they consider abusive, defamatory, trademark-infringing, or harmful to their brand, and may apply their own penalties to the artist or label profile.

• Artificial Streaming & Chart Manipulation: Stores monitor catalogs for artificial streaming, bots, loop scripts, and paid playlist manipulation. Releases flagged for manipulated activity can be taken down, DSP fines are passed on to you, royalties can be withheld, and the DistroVibe account can be permanently terminated. See our Anti-Fraud Policy for details.

Need to Report an Infringement?

• To report an unauthorized release distributed through DistroVibe, submit a notice via our DMCA Notice Form at distrovibe.com/dmca or email legal@distrovibe.com.

• For existing claims, counter-notifications, or strike questions, contact legal@distrovibe.com. For general account questions, open a support ticket or email support@distrovibe.com.