Legal & policies

1. The law we work with

Uganda protects original musical works, sound recordings, performances, broadcasts and related content under the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act, 2006 (Act No. 19 of 2006) and its regulations. The Act gives authors economic rights, moral rights and neighbouring rights to performers and producers.

Copyright is automatic when a qualifying work is created or fixed. Registration with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) can help prove ownership, but it is not the source of the right. Collective management organisations such as the Uganda Performing Right Society (UPRS) license public performance and related uses.

As a general guide, copyright in a literary, musical or artistic work lasts for the author's life plus 50 years. Rights in sound recordings and performances are generally protected for 50 years from publication or fixation, subject to the Act's detailed rules. These periods are not a licence to use a recording: permission is still required while rights subsist.

2. Who owns what

Artists, songwriters, producers, performers, labels and other rights holders keep their rights. Mpabeat does not claim ownership of uploaded masters or compositions.

Mpabeat owns its platform, software, brand, editorial writing and original design. The Mpabeat name and logo may not be used without permission.

A download is a personal copy. It does not transfer copyright, master rights, publishing rights or the right to make the recording available to others.

3. The licence creators give Mpabeat

By uploading a record, the creator grants Mpabeat a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing licence to host, store, transcode, stream, preview, sell downloads of, reproduce for technical delivery, and promote the record on Mpabeat and its official channels.

The licence lasts while the record is on Mpabeat and for the reasonable period needed to wind down caching, backups and existing purchases. It does not transfer ownership.

Creators confirm they have cleared samples, features, cover art, photographs and any other third-party material. Mpabeat may require evidence of those permissions.

4. What listeners may do

You may not re-upload, redistribute, sell, sublicense, broadcast, publicly perform for commercial gain, remix commercially, extract stems, or use a recording in a film, advert, game or app without the rights holder's written permission.

• Stream approved records through the Mpabeat player.
• Download a record you have bought or that is marked free, and keep it for personal listening.
• Share a link to a song page using the share controls.
• Quote a short excerpt for criticism, review, teaching or news reporting where the law permits fair dealing.

5. Reporting copyright infringement

If you own or control rights in a record and believe it is available on Mpabeat without permission, send a notice to support@mpabeat.com with the subject "Copyright notice". A useful notice includes:

• your name, organisation, address, email and phone number;
• identification of the work or recording you say is infringed, including registration or release information where available;
• the exact Mpabeat URL or a description sufficient for us to locate the material;
• a statement that you have a good-faith belief that the use is not authorised by the rights holder, its agent or the law;
• a statement that the information in the notice is accurate and that you are the rights holder or authorised to act for them;
• your physical or electronic signature.

6. What we do with a notice

We review the notice, may ask for clarification, and may remove or restrict the identified material while we investigate. Where appropriate, we notify the creator who uploaded it and give them the notice so they can respond.

We keep a record of notices and actions. Repeated or serious infringement can lead to suspension or permanent removal from Mpabeat.

We may decline a notice that is incomplete, clearly abusive, concerns a different recording, or does not identify the material. We are not a court and cannot finally decide disputed ownership; we act to reduce risk while the parties resolve the dispute.

7. Counter-notice

A creator who believes their material was removed by mistake may send a counter-notice to support@mpabeat.com with the subject "Copyright counter-notice". Include your contact details, the removed URL, the reason you believe you have the rights, any licence or assignment evidence, and a statement that the information is accurate.

We may restore material if the counter-notice and evidence support that step, or if the claimant does not pursue the matter. We may keep material restricted where ownership is genuinely disputed or a court order applies.

8. Misrepresentation and repeat infringement

Knowingly making a false or misleading infringement notice or counter-notice can expose you to liability. Do not use this process to target a competitor, suppress criticism or claim rights you do not own.

Mpabeat maintains a repeat-infringer policy. Accounts that repeatedly upload infringing material, ignore takedowns or attempt to evade enforcement may be suspended or terminated.

9. Courts, URSB and the police

Copyright owners may also seek remedies through the courts, the Copyright Tribunal and other competent authorities under the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act, 2006. Suspected criminal infringement can be reported to the Uganda Police.

We cooperate with valid court orders and lawful requests from competent authorities, subject to the Privacy Policy.

10. Contact

Copyright and takedown: support@mpabeat.com with the subject "Copyright notice".

Post: Mpabeat, Nandee Towers, Plot 12 Wilson Road, Kampala, Uganda.

This page explains our process; it is not legal advice. Rights holders with complex disputes should consult a Ugandan intellectual property lawyer.