Copyright Policy - Arphros

1. Overview

Arphros allows users to create, upload, publish, download, and play user-generated levels. Levels may include user-provided files, metadata, banners, music information, and embedded audio files. Users are solely responsible for making sure they have the legal right to upload and share every asset included in their levels.

Arphros does not sell user-uploaded levels, music, or audio, and we do not intentionally monetize specific user-uploaded copyrighted works. Supporter income is voluntary donation-style support used for service costs, development, moderation, hosting, licensing efforts where possible, and community operations. Supporter benefits are cosmetic or account/community features and do not provide paid access to user-uploaded copyrighted content.

Arphros does not pre-screen every user-uploaded level or every audio file before publication. However, we may remove, disable access to, restrict, or preserve records of content when we receive a copyright complaint, believe content may infringe third-party rights, or determine that content violates our Terms.

2. User Responsibility for Music and Assets

• You must not upload copyrighted music, audio, samples, images, charts, models, levels, or other assets unless you own them, have permission, use a valid license, or the material is otherwise legally permitted.
• This applies even if the file is embedded inside a level archive, renamed, converted to another format, trimmed, remixed, or only used as background music.
• When publishing content, you may be asked to confirm that you have the rights or permission needed to upload and share the included assets.
• You are responsible for claims, disputes, damages, or takedown requests arising from your uploaded content.
• Do not assume that content is allowed just because it is available on YouTube, Spotify, TikTok, SoundCloud, a game soundtrack, or another website.
• When possible, use original music, public-domain content, royalty-free content, or assets with a license that allows use in downloadable game levels.
• Do not reupload content that was removed for copyright reasons, encourage others to upload infringing content, or try to bypass a takedown decision.

3. Verification, Featured Levels, and Supporter Benefits

• Verified or featured status is a community moderation and quality decision. It is not a copyright license, legal clearance, sponsorship, endorsement, or guarantee that every asset in a level is authorized.
• We may refuse, remove, or revoke verified or featured status if a level appears to contain unauthorized music, audio, art, copied level design, or other third-party material.
• Supporter status, badges, profile customization, and similar benefits are not payment for user-uploaded levels, songs, audio, downloads, or copyrighted works.

4. How to Submit a Copyright Complaint

If you believe a level or other content in Arphros infringes your copyright, email us at [email protected]. Please include:

• Your full name and contact information, including an email address and any address or phone number needed for a formal notice.
• Identification of the copyrighted work you claim was infringed.
• The level ID, URL, username, file name, screenshot, or other information reasonably sufficient for us to locate the allegedly infringing content.
• A statement that you have a good faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
• A statement that the information in your notice is accurate, and under penalty of perjury where applicable, that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act for the copyright owner.
• Your physical or electronic signature.

5. What We May Do After a Complaint

• We may remove or disable access to the reported level, audio, banner, metadata, or account content while reviewing the complaint.
• We may notify the uploader and provide limited information about the complaint when appropriate.
• We may preserve a backup, metadata, takedown log, uploader ID, timestamps, complaint references, repeat-infringer counts, and moderation notes for legal, safety, and repeat-infringer purposes.
• We may reject incomplete, abusive, fraudulent, or bad-faith complaints.
• We may restore content if we determine that the complaint was mistaken, withdrawn, insufficient, or otherwise not actionable.

6. Counter-Notices

If your content was removed and you believe the removal was a mistake or misidentification, you may contact us with a counter-notice. Your counter-notice should include:

• Your full name, address, phone number, and email address.
• Identification of the removed content and where it appeared before removal.
• A statement, under penalty of perjury where applicable, explaining why you believe the content was removed by mistake or misidentification.
• A statement that you have the rights or permission needed to use the disputed material.
• Your physical or electronic signature.

We may decline to restore content if restoration would create legal, safety, operational, or repeat-infringer risk.

7. Repeat Infringer Policy

• Users who repeatedly upload infringing content may have levels removed, publishing access restricted, stats or verification removed, or accounts suspended or banned.
• We may count repeated valid copyright complaints, repeated removals, obvious infringement, evasion attempts, or bad-faith conduct when deciding enforcement, and admins may keep internal takedown records to support those decisions.
• We may also restrict accounts that encourage others to upload infringing content or try to bypass takedown actions.

8. No Legal Advice

This policy is not legal advice. If you are unsure whether you can use a song, sound recording, image, or other asset in your level, do not upload it unless you obtain permission or legal advice from a qualified professional.

9. Contact

Copyright complaints, counter-notices, and related questions should be sent to [email protected].