This policy outlines our approach to preventing and addressing fraudulent activities on the Dream Records platform. It is intended to protect the interests of End Users, Digital Service Providers (DSPs), and other stakeholders while maintaining the integrity of our services.

For the purpose of this policy:

• The “End User” refers to the person or legal entity that has entered into a contractual relationship with Dream Records, accepting the Terms of Use and providing content for distribution on DSPs (Digital Service Providers).
• “We” or “Us” refers to Dream Records Media Private Limited, the providers of the service.

This policy is intended to:

1. Provide a clear definition of “fraud.”
2. Summarize the responsibilities of End Users in avoiding fraudulent activities.
3. Outline actions to be taken when suspected fraudulent activities arise.
4. Define responsibilities for conducting investigations into fraud-related activities.
5. Protect rights holders who may be victimized by fraudulent activities.

This document should be read in conjunction with:

• The Terms of Use
• The Privacy Policy

Definitions

• End User: The person or legal entity with a contractual relationship with Dream Records for using our platform.
• User Account: Accounts created and owned by End Users.
• Fraud: Includes, but is not limited to:
  • Unauthorized exploitation of copyrighted material (Copyright Infringement).
  • Infringement of legal rights of copyright holders.
  • Use of misleading artist, band, or label names or artwork to create confusion (Musical Spam).
  • Use of bots or other automated methods to generate artificial streams or clicks (Click Fraud).
  • Uploading distorted music or other unauthorized content to generate revenue.

Policy on Fraudulent Activities

Fraud in any form is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Fraudulent activities can:

• Harm content creators by damaging their copyrights, reputation, and royalty potential.
• Impact our contracts with DSPs, ultimately affecting all End Users.
• Damage the reputation of Dream Records as a reliable service provider.

We aim to prevent and, if necessary, eliminate fraudulent usage of our platform. All suspicions of fraud will be rigorously investigated and addressed.

DSP and Dream Records Anti-Fraud Measures

Actions by DSPs

DSPs employ a combination of algorithms and manual review to monitor for potential fraud. If fraudulent activities are detected, they may:

• Remove the associated content.
• Notify Dream Records of the suspicious activity.
• Withhold payments related to fraudulent streams or activities.

Actions by Dream Records

We actively monitor for fraudulent activities through:

1. Data Analysis: We analyze historical sales data, artist profiles, and other information to identify irregular activity.
2. Content Fingerprinting: All content is fingerprinted and matched against databases to prevent duplicate uploads, unauthorized content, or low-quality submissions like “white noise.”
3. Quality Control: Our Quality Control (QC) processes detect misleading metadata or other forms of Musical Spam.

Addressing Suspected Fraud

Three-Strike Policy

When unauthorized activities are detected, we follow a three-strike system:

• Strike One:

  • The End User is notified.
  • The suspicious content is removed.
  • A warning is issued regarding account suspension after further violations.

• Strike Two:

  • The End User is notified.
  • The suspicious content is removed.
  • A final warning is issued, stating the account will be blocked after a third strike.

• Strike Three:

  • The End User is notified.
  • The account is blocked, and all content is removed.
  • Royalties associated with the account are placed in escrow for up to five years.

Severity Levels

Issues are categorized into three levels:

• F0 (Critical Issues):

  • Fake or unauthorized account information.
  • Repeated inconsistent IP activity.

• F1 (Click Fraud):

  • Sudden spikes in streams or revenue without supporting audience growth.
  • Revenue generation without verifiable customer information.

• F2 (Musical Spam and Copyright Issues):

  • Misleading metadata designed to attract clicks.
  • Impersonation of artists, labels, or companies.
  • Use of copyrighted material without authorization.

Consequences of Fraud

1. Termination: Breach of the Terms of Use may result in account termination.
2. Revenue Withholding: Royalties generated through fraudulent activities may be withheld.
3. Legal Costs: Costs incurred due to fraudulent activities may be deducted from future payments to the End User.

Blocked Accounts

Blocked accounts are subject to the following policies:

• Access Restriction: Blocked accounts lose access to the platform.
• Royalties in Escrow: Revenue from the account is held in escrow for up to five years to address claims from DSPs, rights holders, or legal actions.
• Content Removal: All content associated with the blocked account may be taken down.

Unblocking Accounts

Accounts may be unblocked if the End User provides verifiable information within five business days. Required steps may include:

• Completing all profile information.
• Providing valid identification documents.
• Supplying proof of ownership for uploaded content (licenses, contracts, etc.).
• Sharing artist profiles, social media links, or website URLs to corroborate sales data.

Withholding Royalties

• Royalties associated with suspected fraudulent activity will be withheld for up to five years.
• Funds may be used to address claims from DSPs, rights holders, or legal penalties.
• After five years, unclaimed royalties will be released to the End User, provided no unresolved claims remain.

Takedowns

Confirmed infringing content will be removed immediately. DSPs may also mark content as suspicious and take it down at their discretion.

If you have questions about this policy, please contact us at support@dreamrecords.in.

Dream Records Media Private Limited remains committed to creating a safe and transparent platform for all users.