How to Remove Stolen Content from SoundCloud: Ultimate Guide

As a musician, you pour your heart and soul into the songs you create, which makes it all the more painful when you see your music stolen and distributed without your consent on SoundCloud.

Luckily, SoundCloud makes it easy to get stolen content removed.

Here’s how.

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Our content was stolen!  So, we found an anti-piracy expert to reclaim our lost rankings and stop unauthorized copies. Now you can work with him too. 

• Avoid lost revenue when others monetize YOUR content
• Stop brand damage when your name is used on shady websites
• Prevent pirated copies from appearing above you in search results

How Does Content Get Stolen on SoundCloud?

Let’s look at how you got here in the first place.

How does content get stolen on SoundCloud?

There are a few different ways that content can be considered stolen on SoundCloud, including:

• Re-recording the same original song with a different artist (unauthorized cover)
• Downloading the song file and uploading it outright without crediting the original musician
• Unauthorized remixes

Importance of Removing Your Stolen Content from SoundCloud

There are plenty of reasons why it’s so important to not let the pirates win by keeping your stolen content on SoundCloud.

A few of them are:

• Protecting your artistic integrity
• Preventing possible negative financial impact (revenue loss)
• Ensuring credit to the original artist
• Legal protection
• Encouraging fair play and a culture of respect

How to Remove Stolen Content from SoundCloud: Steps

Now… how do you do it?

SoundCloud makes it easy to submit a DMCA takedown to their very own DMCA agent.

That being said, you will need to do some background work and gather evidence.

Here’s how to do that!

1. Find the Stolen Content

First and foremost, you’ll need to find the stolen content.

You can do this by:

• Manually searching through all of SoundCloud for copies or ripoffs of your song
• Set up Google alerts for the name of your song or relative keywords
• Use digital distribution services like TuneCore or CD Baby, which offer content ID and audio fingerprinting services that scan platforms like SoundCloud for unauthorized use
• Form good relationships with your fans so they notify you if they see your music stolen
• Monitor your social media mentions to see if someone posts about your stolen content on sites outside of SoundCloud
• Use a DMCA takedown service [our list of the best] to scour the internet for all unauthorized copies or copycats of your music

2. Gather Evidence

Next, get your receipts ready!

We recommend gathering any and every piece of evidence you can possibly find. This includes screenshots and URLs of your original song on SoundCloud and any unauthorized usage of your music elsewhere on SoundCloud or even off the platform.

Note that you will need to have evidence for every infringing URL, which may take quite some searching.

If you want to go the extra mile, you can take screenshots of your writing and creation process; things like a screenshot of your notes app with the original lyrics, clips of you in the recording booth, and anything and everything that proves you created the music.

Make sure as much of this evidence is timestamped as possible.

3. Fill Out SoundCloud's Report Form/Use Report Button

The easiest way to report infringing content on SoundCloud is to use its built-in reporting mechanisms.

Here are a few disclaimers that SoundCloud wants you to know before you report anything on their site (copied directly from their reporting page):

• These infringement reporting methods should be used for copyright infringement only. If you wish to make a report concerning trademark infringement or any other rights, please email us at [email protected].
• Please only report infringement of your own copyright or the copyright of someone you are authorized to represent. Reporting content that does not belong to you may result in the suspension or termination of your account. You may also be liable for damages (including costs and legal fees) incurred by SoundCloud, the person whose sounds you report, or any copyright owner or authorized licensee as the result of sounds being removed. If you believe that someone else’s copyright is being infringed, you are encouraged to tell them and direct them to this page.
• Please do not report copyright infringement unless you have a genuine claim. If you make groundless or malicious reports of copyright infringement, you risk having your account suspended or terminated. You may also be liable for damages (including costs and legal fees) incurred by SoundCloud, the person whose tracks you report, and/or any copyright owner or authorized licensee, as the result of tracks being removed in reliance on your notice.
• Please provide detail. The more information we have regarding your claim, the quicker we can process your notice.

The first way is to use SoundCloud’s copyright reporting form. This blank form comes with fields where you can fill out what the infringing content is, why it’s against copyright law and a statement of good faith that you own the original content.

You will need to provide the evidence you gathered in the last step for this option.

You can also click the “Report” button available on the left side of each track page under the name of the uploading user which you can use to report the track on that page.

4. Email SoundCloud's Copyright Team Directly

Would you rather write to the copyright team at SoundCloud?

This method is less recommended as it requires more work on your part, but it’s still an option for those who would prefer it.

Directly from their website, you should include the following information in your email:

• a statement that you have identified tracks on SoundCloud that infringe your copyright or the copyright of a third party on whose behalf you are entitled to act;
• a description of the copyright work(s) that you claim have been infringed;
• a description of the sound(s) that you claim are infringing and the specific track URL(s) where such tracks can be located;
• your full name, address, and telephone number, a valid email address at which you can be contacted, and your SoundCloud username if you have one;
• a statement that you have a good faith belief that the disputed use of the material is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law;
• a statement that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the owner of the exclusive right that is allegedly infringed or authorized to act on their behalf;

If you want your notice to be considered a “DMCA takedown,” you will also need to include the following:

• with respect to your statement that you are the owner of the exclusive right that is allegedly infringed (or authorized to act on their behalf), confirmation that such statement is made under penalty of perjury; and
• your electronic or physical signature (which may be a scanned copy).

You should email the info to [email protected] and/or by mail to the following address:

SoundCloud Global Limited & Co. KG
Rheinsberger Str. 76/77
10015 Berlin Germany
Attn: Copyright Team

Use a DMCA Takedown Service

If this all seems like a lot, it’s because it kind of is.

To skip doing all of this tedious extra work, consider using a DMCA takedown service. They can collect evidence and issue DMCA takedowns on your behalf, and many even offer ongoing monitoring services to protect your content moving forward.

We know firsthand how hard it is to tackle all of those takedowns yourself, which is why we created our own DMCA takedown service to help creators like you maintain their artistic integrity and keep their well-earned credit for the music they’ve spent time making.

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Learn More

Our content was stolen!  So, we found an anti-piracy expert to reclaim our lost rankings and stop unauthorized copies. Now you can work with him too. 

• Avoid lost revenue when others monetize YOUR content
• Stop brand damage when your name is used on shady websites
• Prevent pirated copies from appearing above you in search results

Prevent Future Content Theft

You know what they say about an ounce of prevention…

Here are some pointers on how to prevent future theft of your music:

• Use a DRM (digital rights management) system that uses Content ID and audio fingerprinting
• Use metadata or audio watermarks in your music
• Use private sharing or share short clips on the platform
• Put copyright ownership notices on your profile
• Monitor content and set up Google alerts
• Use professional monitoring services
• Use SoundCloud’s built-in features to manage permissions and enable download restrictions

Frequently Asked Questions

How to remove copyright claim on SoundCloud?

Since SoundCloud is generally unable to re-upload music after it has been taken down following their review process to confirm copyright infringement, you will need to reach out to the artist who filed the claim directly to counter a copyright claim.

How do you get something removed from SoundCloud?

The easiest way to get something removed from SoundCloud is to click the “report” button on the track page. You can also fill out SoundCloud’s reporting form or email their copyright agent.

Can someone steal my music on SoundCloud?

Yes, unfortunately, someone can steal your music on SoundCloud, though the platform offers preventative measures to prevent theft from taking place.

What happens if you get copyrighted on SoundCloud?

If you get copyrighted on SoundCloud and the complainant has provided the platform with enough evidence that you’ve stolen the content, your content will get removed from SoundCloud. If you get three strikes, your account could be banned.