Strikes Policy
How Droploud handles copyright complaints, what happens when a complaint is confirmed, and what you can do if you believe a strike has been applied in error.
What a strike is
A strike is a confirmed copyright complaint against content you uploaded to Droploud. A complaint is only a strike once an admin has reviewed it and marked it valid. Pending or unreviewed complaints do not count.
The repeat-infringer policy exists to comply with safe-harbour obligations under the DMCA and equivalent legislation. Droploud is required to have a policy for terminating repeat infringers and to reasonably implement it.
The three-step process
Every copyright complaint follows the same path before it can affect your account:
A rights holder submits a DMCA takedown or a complaint via our copyright form. The complained-about content is removed from public view immediately.
The Droploud team reviews the complaint, the content, and any counter-notice you submit. The complaint is marked valid, rejected, or withdrawn.
Only a valid outcome counts toward your strike total. A rejected or withdrawn complaint has no impact on your account.
Strike states
Each complaint sits in one of four states at any given time:
- 01.Pending — received but not yet reviewed. No effect on your strike count.
- 02.Valid — confirmed as a legitimate complaint. Counts toward your strike total in the rolling window.
- 03.Rejected — found to be unfounded, duplicated, or outside scope. Zero effect on your account.
- 04.Withdrawn — the complainant retracted the complaint. Zero effect on your account.
Threshold and rolling window
Three confirmed valid strikes within a rolling 12-month window flag your account for review and potential termination. Strikes older than 12 months fall outside the window and no longer count toward the threshold, though they remain in our records for audit purposes.
Termination is not automatic. Reaching three strikes flags your account for admin review. An admin confirms the termination decision. You receive a notice before access is suspended.
Consequences
The impact of strikes scales with the number you have accumulated:
- Strike 1: the offending content is removed and you receive a notice by email. Strike recorded with timestamp and notice reference.
- Strike 2: the offending content is removed and you receive a final-warning email. You are warned that a further confirmed complaint within the window may result in account termination.
- Strike 3 (or more): your account is flagged for termination review. An admin confirms the decision. If confirmed, your account is terminated: all your tracks are removed, all paid packs are delisted and their downloads disabled (including for prior buyers), and platform access is revoked. No further uploads are accepted.
Track removal under a copyright complaint is separate from the strike count. A track can be removed even if the underlying complaint is later rejected (because the content is gone before the review completes). Reinstatement of removed tracks is handled case-by-case.
A valid DMCA §512(g) counter-notice restores the specific track after the statutory 10–14 business-day window (see the DMCA Policy). Account reinstatement is possible at Droploud's discretion and does not automatically restore removed tracks or delisted packs.
How to appeal
If you believe a strike has been applied to your account in error — for example, because the complained-about content was original work, properly licensed, or covered by an exception — email copyright@droploud.com within 30 days of the notice.
Include in your email:
- your Droploud username;
- the date of the strike notice;
- the name or ID of the track the complaint relates to;
- the reason you believe the content was original or properly licensed, with supporting evidence where available (e.g. a licence agreement, original project file, or public-domain source).
We aim to acknowledge appeals within 5 business days and to resolve them within 30 calendar days. If we uphold your appeal, the strike is marked withdrawn and your account is updated accordingly.
Reinstatement
Termination under this policy is indefinite, but may be reversed at Droploud's discretion. Reinstatement is typically considered in limited circumstances:
- a successful appeal results in enough valid strikes falling below the threshold;
- new evidence emerges that was not available at the time of review;
- a technical or administrative error is found in how strikes were applied.
Reinstatement does not automatically restore removed tracks or delisted packs. Restored content is reviewed individually before being made public again.
Content upload responsibilities
By uploading content to Droploud you confirm that you have the rights or permissions necessary to distribute that content. You must not upload:
- recordings or compositions owned by a third party without a documented licence or written permission;
- samples from commercial releases without clearance, unless the sample meets a fair-use or fair-dealing standard in the applicable jurisdiction;
- cover recordings of copyrighted songs without a mechanical or synchronisation licence where required;
- content for which you know or suspect a copyright claim exists.
Droploud cannot and does not pre-screen every upload for copyright compliance. Responsibility rests with the uploader. If you are unsure whether your content is clear to upload, seek advice before publishing.
Repeat complaints from the same source
Droploud reviews whether a pattern of complaints from a single source appears to be targeted harassment rather than legitimate copyright enforcement. Complaints that appear abusive, retaliatory, or demonstrably unfounded are marked rejected and excluded from the strike count.
If you believe you are receiving targeted false complaints, include details of that pattern in your appeal email.
Contact
Copyright complaints and appeals: copyright@droploud.com. General support: support@droploud.com. Operator: Droploud FZ-LLC, RAKEZ, United Arab Emirates.
For DMCA takedown notices and counter-notices, refer to the DMCA Policy.