1. Introduction
At YPBB Music, we are committed to providing a safe, transparent, and fair platform for all users. The purpose of this Anti-Fraud Policy is to outline our approach towards preventing, detecting, and addressing fraudulent activities on our platform. This policy aims to protect content creators, rights holders, and our reputation while ensuring the integrity of the services we provide.

For the purpose of this policy, the “End User” refers to any individual or legal entity that has entered into a contractual relationship with YPBB Music, accepting the Terms of Use and providing content that will be distributed via Digital Service Providers (DSPs). “We” or “Us” refers to YPBB Music, the provider of the platform and services.

2. Purpose of this Policy
This policy is designed to:

  • Define fraud and fraudulent activities.
  • Outline the responsibilities of End Users in avoiding fraud.
  • Provide guidance on actions to take if fraudulent activity is suspected.
  • Clarify the responsibilities of YPBB Music and other involved parties during investigations into fraud-related matters.
  • Protect rights holders who may be affected by fraudulent activities.

This document should be read in conjunction with:

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

3. Definitions

  • End User: Any person or entity that has entered into a contractual relationship with YPBB Music.
  • User Account: An account owned by an End User.
  • Fraud: Any unauthorized or illegal activity that exploits or damages the content, services, or rights of others, including:
    • Copyright infringement or the unauthorized use of copyrighted material.
    • Use of misleading artist names, band names, or artwork that may create confusion or lead to false expectations.
    • Click fraud, where automated bots or deceptive methods are used to generate fraudulent streaming activity or clicks.
    • Uploading distorted, empty, or illegitimate content to generate revenue.
    • Any other activity that violates the Terms of Service or agreements with DSPs.

4. Policy Statement
Fraud is unacceptable, and any activity that falls under fraudulent conduct will be dealt with seriously.

  • Fraud harms not only YPBB Music but also the DSPs and other content creators, as it can damage copyrights, reputation, and reduce the royalties available to rightful creators.
  • Fraud can also significantly affect our relationships with DSPs, leading to potential contract breaches and other operational consequences.
  • Our objective is to prevent and, where necessary, eliminate fraudulent behavior in order to maintain the integrity of our platform.

5. DSPs’ Actions Against Fraud
Most DSPs use a combination of algorithms and human oversight to scan their catalog for potential fraud or unauthorized activities. When fraudulent activity is detected, DSPs may remove the content and notify us. They may also withhold any previously generated payments connected to suspicious activities.

6. YPBB Music’s Actions Against Fraud
We employ several measures to detect and prevent fraudulent activity, including:

  • Automated Monitoring: We monitor sales data, artist profiles, social media presence, and other relevant information to detect irregular patterns.
  • Content Fingerprinting: All new tracks and our back catalog are fingerprinted and compared against databases to detect duplicate uploads, white noise, or copyrighted content.
  • Quality Control (QC): Our QC processes focus on detecting misleading metadata or fraudulent content, such as “musical spam.”

7. Handling Suspected Fraud
If we detect or suspect any unauthorized activity, such as bot-generated streams, click fraud, or musical spam, the following actions will be taken:

  1. Investigation: We will conduct a thorough investigation into the suspected fraudulent activity.
  2. Warnings: If necessary, a 3-strike warning system will be applied:
    • First Strike: Warning issued and content removal.
    • Second Strike: Another warning issued and content removal.
    • Third Strike: Account blocked, and all content removed.

Any revenues related to fraudulent activities will be withheld.

8. Consequences of Fraudulent Activities
If we determine that an End User is engaging in fraudulent activity, we have the right to:

  • Terminate the Contractual Relationship: We may end our agreement with the End User.
  • Withhold Royalties: Any payments due to the End User for fraudulent activities may be withheld and used to cover any claims related to the fraudulent activity.
  • Recover Costs: Any costs incurred by YPBB Music, including legal fees, may be deducted from future payments.

9. Severity Levels of Fraud
We classify suspected fraudulent activities into three severity tiers:

  • F0 (Critical Issues): Fraudulent activity involving fake information or unauthorized third-party content.
  • F1 (Click Fraud): Abnormal revenue generation without a corresponding fanbase or legitimate streaming activity.
  • F2 (Musical Spamming & Copyright Issues): Content with misleading metadata, impersonation of other artists, or copyright violations.

10. Strike Policy
When a suspected fraudulent activity is detected, the following strike system applies:

  • Strike 1: Warning and content removal.
  • Strike 2: Content removal and second warning issued.
  • Strike 3: Account is blocked, content removed, and royalties held in escrow for up to five years.

11. Blocked Account Policy
If an End User fails to provide the requested information or refuses to cooperate within 5 working days, the following actions may be taken:

  • Account Blocked: The account will be blocked, and all content may be removed.
  • Royalties Held in Escrow: Any royalties generated through suspected fraudulent activities will be withheld for up to 5 years.

12. Unblocking an Account
To unblock an account, the following information must be provided:

  • Complete and accurate End User details.
  • A valid identification document (passport or national ID).
  • Links to verified artist profiles, such as social media or official websites.

13. Resolving Strikes
To resolve a strike, the End User must take corrective actions such as:

  • Correcting any misleading metadata.
  • Providing evidence of content ownership or valid licensing agreements.
  • Acquiring necessary licenses if applicable.

If the End User meets these requirements, the strike will be removed. Failure to meet these requirements will result in the strike remaining in place.

14. Withholding Royalties (Escrow)
Revenues related to fraudulent content will be withheld for up to five years to resolve claims. The royalties will be held in escrow during this time and may be returned to the rightful party or distributed according to the results of any investigations.

15. Takedowns
We will initiate takedowns of content identified as violating this Anti-Fraud Policy, including content related to F0, F1, or F2 issues. DSPs also have the right to remove content at their discretion.