How do I counter a copyright claim on my song in iTunes/Apple Music

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Level 1

8 points

How do I counter a copyright claim on my song in iTunes/Apple Music

For over a month now I am trying to find a way to prove that our song is actually our song.

It was deleted from iTunes and Apple Music after someone filed a copyright claim. Through our distributor (https://distrokid.com/, which is not very helpful either) we received this person's email but he does not reply. I've been on the phone with regular iTunes support for over half an hour, after which all they could do was tell me to fill in the form for copyright information on https://www.apple.com/legal/contact/.

I filled this in a week ago and still haven't heard anything (it even says you might not get a reply). It is completely beyond me why it is so easy to remove someone's song from stores, while it is so hard to get it back. We have a signed contract, we just have no idea where to send it to.

Any help from similar experiences would be much appreciated.

Posted on Feb 22, 2017 7:24 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 22, 2017 10:31 PM in response to ed2345

ed2345 wrote:

If the other party is selling your song under their name, file a (counter)claim with Apple.

From reading the question it seems to be the other way around, the other party had the song removed after they claimed it was their song.

It was deleted from iTunes and Apple Music after someone filed a copyright claim.

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Answer 2

ed2345

Level 9

63,632 points

Feb 23, 2017 4:02 AM in response to Limnos

Limnos wrote:

ed2345 wrote:

If the other party is selling your song under their name, file a (counter)claim with Apple.

From reading the question it seems to be the other way around, the other party had the song removed after they claimed it was their song.

It was deleted from iTunes and Apple Music after someone filed a copyright claim.

Limnos,

Since party X is claiming that they own rights to the song, they may well be selling it, or some version of it, under their name. That is quite possibly the intent of filing the claim against Jan Hendrik. If that is the case, and Jan Hendrik believes he is the proper rights-holder, then Jan Hendrik has grounds for a claim against party X.

Note: This is a lay opinion, not legal advice. If there is significant value involved here, legal representation with a specialty in copyright law would be needed.

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Answer 3

JanHendrikV Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 23, 2017 2:24 PM in response to ed2345

I don't think the other party is selling the song somewhere, at least, we can't find it. Because the artists are all based in different countries and so is the other party, I'm afraid getting a lawyer will cost too much. I was just hoping there was a simpler solution since we're the only party who is able to provide a rights contract or anything else to prove the song is ours.

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