Intellectual Property

What is this about?

This page is about intellectual property (IP) rights and how they may come into play when you use Stereo AI. It is important to be aware that it is your responsibility to make sure that you do not infringe the rights of any other person or company when you upload content to Stereo AI. We ask that you be careful when uploading content which includes or references material which you do not own. Stereo AI does not actively monitor content which is uploaded, but we may take it down if an IP owner notifies us.

This page provides a summary of potential IP rights, but it is not legal advice. If you are unsure of your position, you may wish to conduct additional research or consult a lawyer. If you own IP rights which have been infringed on Stereo AI, you may submit a notification in accordance with the Copyright Policy.

Trademarks

Trademarks are signs which are used to identify brands and distinguish them from their competitors. The most common forms of trademarks are brand names, logos, slogans, shapes, images, or even video and audio clips. They are designed to stop confusion among consumers by preventing other people from piggybacking on an established brand and to maintain the brand’s reputation. Any kind of sign can be registered as a trademark, as long as the owner meets the criteria set by the relevant registry. Even ordinary words found in the dictionary can be registered. It is possible to use trademarks descriptively or to refer to a product or service without suggesting an association with it; however, it is best to avoid using them altogether in order to avoid any potential legal issues.

Copyright

Copyright provides protection for original works, including texts, sounds, music, videos, art and designs, and in some cases vehicles or buildings. Copyright is automatically owned by the creator of the work and it is important to remember that without the copyright owner's permission, copying, altering or sharing their work is an infringement of their copyright. Even if the content is easily available online, it is important to not use it without the owner's consent.

It's a common misunderstanding that, just because you observe others using a piece of content, it must be safe for you to use it. This is often not the case. The other people you see may have been granted permission, or it could be that the copyright owner hasn't gotten around to enforcing their rights yet. If you are making audio or video clips, you should be cautious not to use third-party sounds (including music) or footage without obtaining a license from the owner. What is acceptable? You may be familiar with "fair dealing" or "fair use". These are exceptions to copyright infringement, which are valid in specific, limited scenarios, and which vary across countries. The fair dealing and fair use exceptions are complex and subject to the specifics of each situation. If you incorporate someone else's work in your content, there is no single rule you can follow to guarantee your safety. Generally, these exceptions are designed to permit people to make brief references to copyright works in certain situations, such as when critiquing somebody else's content. It's common among online creators to overestimate how useful the fair dealing and fair use exceptions are to them. Keep this in mind, and if you do think you qualify for one of the exceptions, remember that you will have to prove it if there is a dispute.

Other intellectual property rights such as patents, design rights, confidentiality, unfair competition or passing off may apply, however, these are less likely to be applicable to individuals using Stereo AI. If you are concerned that your use could infringe upon any of these rights, we strongly advise that you seek professional advice.

What could happen if you upload infringing content?

If you upload content which infringes somebody's intellectual property rights, the most likely outcome is that the owner of the rights will ask us to take it down. We may also take action against you, such as terminating your account, especially if you are a repeat offender. Therefore, we urge you to do your research before using somebody else’s IP rights, follow our Guidelines, and use Stereo AI responsibly.