Copyright & Takedown Policy

1. Our Commitment to Copyright

SongShare is built to honour music creators and protect their rights. We take copyright and intellectual property seriously. This policy explains how we handle copyright on the Platform and how rights holders can report infringement.

SongShare complies with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (CDPA) and the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002. As a hosting service provider, we act expeditiously to remove or disable access to infringing content upon receiving valid notifications.

2. Copyright Ownership on SongShare

User Content: Users who upload songs, lyrics, chord charts, audio recordings, images, and other content to SongShare retain full ownership of their intellectual property. SongShare does not claim ownership of any user-submitted content.

Platform Content: The SongShare platform itself, including its design, branding, logos, code, and original editorial content, is the intellectual property of GreenTree t/a TEGTG Ltd.

Licence to SongShare: By uploading content, users grant SongShare a non-exclusive licence to host, display, and distribute that content for the purpose of operating the Platform, as described in our Terms of Service.

3. User Obligations

When uploading content to SongShare, you represent and warrant that:

You are the original creator of the work, or you have obtained the necessary rights, licences, or permissions from all rights holders to upload and share the content on SongShare.

If the work is a collaboration, all collaborators have given their consent for the work to be uploaded.

If the work incorporates samples, interpolations, or arrangements of existing works, you have obtained the necessary clearances and licences.

The content does not infringe the copyright, trade mark, or other intellectual property rights of any third party.

4. Song Review Process

All songs uploaded to SongShare undergo a review process before being published to the public directory. During this review, our team checks for:

Completeness and quality of the submission (title, lyrics, audio, credits). Obvious signs of copyright infringement (e.g. well-known songs credited to the uploader without evidence of rights). Compliance with our content standards and Acceptable Use Policy.

This review is a good-faith check and does not constitute a legal determination of copyright ownership. The uploading user remains solely responsible for ensuring they have the necessary rights.

5. Reporting Copyright Infringement

If you believe that content on SongShare infringes your copyright, you may submit a takedown notice to us. Your notice must include the following information:

a) Your full name and contact information (email address, postal address, telephone number).

b) A description of the copyrighted work you claim has been infringed, including evidence of your ownership (e.g. PRS registration number, publishing agreement, original recording credits).

c) The URL or other identifying information of the content on SongShare that you claim is infringing.

d) A statement that you have a good-faith belief that use of the material is not authorised by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.

e) A statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorised to act on their behalf.

f) Your physical or electronic signature.

Takedown notices should be sent to: SongShare.co.uk@gmail.com with the subject line: “Copyright Takedown Notice”.

6. Our Response to Takedown Notices

Upon receiving a valid takedown notice, we will:

Acknowledge receipt of your notice within 2 working days.

Review the notice and the content in question.

Remove or disable access to the allegedly infringing content expeditiously, typically within 5 working days of receiving a valid notice.

Notify the user who uploaded the content that it has been removed and provide them with a copy of the takedown notice (with your personal contact details redacted if you request this).

Record the takedown for our records and compliance purposes.

7. Counter-Notification

If you believe your content was removed in error or that you have the necessary rights, you may submit a counter-notification. Your counter-notification must include:

a) Your full name and contact information.

b) Identification of the content that was removed and the URL where it appeared.

c) A statement, made under penalty of perjury, that you have a good-faith belief the content was removed in error or that you have the necessary rights.

d) Evidence supporting your claim (e.g. proof of authorship, licence agreements, co-writer agreements).

e) A statement that you consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

f) Your physical or electronic signature.

Upon receiving a valid counter-notification, we will forward it to the original complainant. If the complainant does not commence legal proceedings within 10 working days, we may restore the content at our discretion.

8. Repeat Infringers

SongShare maintains a policy of terminating the accounts of users who are repeat copyright infringers. Specifically:

First Offence: The infringing content is removed and the user receives a formal warning explaining the violation.

Second Offence: The infringing content is removed and the user's account is suspended for a period of up to 30 days.

Third Offence: The user's account is permanently terminated and they are prohibited from creating a new account.

We reserve the right to deviate from this graduated approach in cases of serious or wilful infringement, where immediate account termination may be warranted.

9. Misuse of the Takedown Process

Submitting a false or misleading takedown notice is a serious matter. If you knowingly make false claims of copyright infringement, you may be liable for damages (including legal costs) under UK law. We reserve the right to take action against users who abuse the takedown process, including account termination.

10. Licensing & Collecting Societies

SongShare encourages all music creators to register with the relevant collecting societies to protect their rights and receive royalties. Key organisations include:

PRS for Music — collects royalties for the public performance and broadcast of musical works.

MCPS (Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society) — collects mechanical royalties for the reproduction of musical works.

PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited) — collects royalties for the broadcast and public performance of recorded music.

CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International) — provides licences for churches and Christian organisations to reproduce and display song lyrics.

SongShare is not a collecting society and does not collect or distribute royalties on behalf of creators. We provide tools to help you track and evidence your performances to support your own claims.

11. Contact

For copyright enquiries or to submit a takedown notice, please contact:

SongShare (GreenTree t/a TEGTG Ltd)
89–90 Paul Street, London EC2A 4NE
Email: SongShare.co.uk@gmail.com
Subject Line: Copyright Takedown Notice