Terms of Service for Uploading Content with Copyrighted Music 

Effective Date: 12/16/2024 

Welcome to Open Cottage! By uploading content to our platform, you agree to the following terms of service (“Terms”) regarding the use of music within your uploaded content. These Terms are designed to protect the rights of content creators, copyright holders, and our platform community. Please read them carefully before agreeing and uploading content. 

1. Acceptance of Terms 

By checking the box below, you affirm that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, you may not upload content to our platform. 

2. Responsibility for Uploaded Content 

You are solely responsible for ensuring that any music included in your uploaded content complies with applicable copyright laws. This means: 

You must own the rights to the music used, have obtained appropriate licensing, or use music that is in the public domain or released under a Creative Commons license that permits your intended use. 

You must be able to provide documentation or proof of your rights to use the music upon request by Open Cottage. 

3. Prohibited Activities 

The following activities are strictly prohibited: 

Uploading content containing copyrighted music without proper authorization or licensing. 

Using music in violation of its licensing terms or without proper attribution if required by the license. 

Attempting to claim ownership of music you do not own. 

4. Consequences of Non-Compliance 

Failure to comply with these Terms may result in the following actions: 

Content Removal: Any content found to include unauthorized copyrighted music will be removed immediately. 

Account Suspension or Termination: Repeated violations or a single serious violation of these Terms may result in the suspension or permanent termination of your account. 

Legal Action: Copyright holders may pursue legal action against you for unauthorized use of their music. Open Cottage will comply with lawful requests for information related to such claims. 

5. DMCA Compliance 

Open Cottage adheres to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and maintains a process for handling takedown notices. If a copyright holder submits a valid DMCA takedown notice regarding your content, it will be removed. You will have the opportunity to respond through a counter-notice process as outlined in our DMCA Policy. 

6. Indemnification 

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Open Cottage, its affiliates, officers, employees, and agents from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from or related to: 

Your use of copyrighted music without proper authorization. 

Any breach of these Terms by you. 

7. Reporting Violations 

If you believe that content on our platform violates these Terms or your intellectual property rights, please notify us using our reporting system or contact info@opencottage.net. 

8. Amendments to Terms 

Open Cottage reserves the right to update or amend these Terms at any time. Significant changes will be communicated to users, and continued use of the platform after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms. 

By checking this box, you confirm that you have read and agree to these Terms of Service regarding uploading content with copyrighted music. You acknowledge that non-compliance may result in the consequences outlined above, including suspension of your account or legal action. 

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at DMCA@opencottage.net.