Soundcloud took my track down!

[MitchT]

So, Soundcloud took my track down because, and I quote, "Our automatic content protection system has detected that your sound "How Long is Forever?" may contain the following copyright content: "Hard Touch" by Mockba, owned by Tranceportation. As a result, its publication on your profile has been blocked."

I've just listened to the track that mine is alleged to sound like and, save for some vague similarities which are typical of the genre, there's no similarity between the two whatsoever. There is certainly no breach of anyone's copyright.

In order to dispute their allegation I have to hand over my name, address, phone number and tick boxes next to all of the following items:

• I have a good faith belief that the above material has been removed or disabled as the result of a mistake or misidentification of this material to be removed. *
• I understand that SoundCloud may suspend or terminate my account if I knowingly misrepresent my rights in this material, and I may also be liable for damages (including costs and attorneys fees) incurred by SoundCloud, the copyright owner or any authorized licensee. *
• I will accept service of process from the rights holder making the allegations of infringement or an authorized agent of such person. *
• I consent to the federal courts in the judicial district where I live (if you live in the United States), or I consent to the jurisdiction of any court or judicial district in which any SoundCloud company is located (if you live outside the United States). *
• I understand that SoundCloud will share my contact information with the party making the allegations of infringement. *
• I acknowledge that, except where SoundCloud is obliged by applicable law to publish or re-publish my material on receipt of a valid counter-notice, SoundCloud may decide at its discretion whether or not to publish or re-publish the material I uploaded. *
• If SoundCloud publishes or re-publishes any material following receipt of this notice, I hereby agree to indemnify and shall keep fully and effectively indemnified SoundCloud Limited, and its shareholders, directors, employees and affiliates from and against any and all claims, costs, expenses, losses, liabilities and damages arising from any actual or alleged violation of any third party rights as the result of any material I have uploaded being made available on SoundCloud.

As a man of very modest means I'm wary of being bankrupted as punishment for simply asserting my right to question their allegations if someone with a very fertile imagination happens to decide that my track does somehow sound like someone else's.

Has anyone else been in this situation?

This is the track that mine is alleged to sound like: http://youtu.be/9axcc1UU-TU

This is my track: http://www.tranceconcept.com/how-long-is-forever/

What do you think folks?

[Hoofy]

No advice sadly. Had similar on YT and it's put me off bothering. Had too many of my own tracks had that claim. Dunno if it's their st algorithm or someone going around with cloth ears manually doing it.

[MitchT]

Maybe better to just leave one track on Soundcloud and a link to a website with everything else hosted on it. Can't be bothered with this hassle.

[Hoofy]

Mmm. Might be an idea.

Funnily, my tunes were also trance and I was matched to something Armada Records released. I guess there's a hidden compliment in my getting reprimanded.

PS Only just had a listen to the two tracks. Prefer yours to the "match"! And the two tracks sound completely different. Mind you, maybe the algorithm is written based on the personality of a 70 year old - "Dance music sounds all the same to me!"

Edited by Hoofy on Thursday 22 May 19:31

[singlecoil]

Hoofy said:

Mind you, maybe the algorithm is written based on the personality of a 70 year old - "Dance music sounds all the same to me!"

You don't need to be 70 to feel that way.

I've felt that way about opera* and jazz since I was old enough to identify them. And I feel that way about dance music too

with a couple or three notable exceptions

[Hoofy]

singlecoil said:

Hoofy said:

Mind you, maybe the algorithm is written based on the personality of a 70 year old - "Dance music sounds all the same to me!"

You don't need to be 70 to feel that way.

I've felt that way about opera* and jazz since I was old enough to identify them. And I feel that way about dance music too

with a couple or three notable exceptions

Old git.

[MitchT]

Hoofy said:

Mmm. Might be an idea.

Funnily, my tunes were also trance and I was matched to something Armada Records released. I guess there's a hidden compliment in my getting reprimanded.

PS Only just had a listen to the two tracks. Prefer yours to the "match"! And the two tracks sound completely different. Mind you, maybe the algorithm is written based on the personality of a 70 year old - "Dance music sounds all the same to me!"

Sadly mine hasn't been compared to anything remotely as decent as an Armada release! I'm actually pretty sure that I originally put my track together a year earlier than the other track too, so quite how I'm supposed to have 'stolen' it I don't know! I can see that the main rif of the 'match' has a similar sound and feel to the rif in the build-up of my track, but the similarity is only to the extent that you'd expect of two tracks within a genre. My track has a completely different arrangement.

[suthol]

Have a good look at the story behind this little piece of tough love

Downunder

[MitchT]

As they say ... where there's a hit, there's a writ!