Animaat Copyright Policy

Introduction

Animaat is dedicated to upholding the rights of creators and protecting intellectual property across our platform. We expect our community members to share this commitment by respecting the copyrights of others. This Copyright Policy details the steps for reporting potential copyright infringements and the actions we take to address these issues. Additionally, this policy serves as a resource for our users to understand what is permissible to share and what may constitute copyright infringement. By being a part of Animaat, you agree to follow this policy and honor the creative works of others. If you believe your intellectual property rights have been violated, you can report it through this form.

Copyright is a legal concept that empowers creators by granting them exclusive rights to their original works, including photographs, videos, music, recordings, and articles. At Animaat, we believe in fostering and celebrating innovation and creativity within our community, and copyright plays a key role in this by allowing creators to reap the benefits of their passion and hard work.

When you create something original, you automatically obtain copyright protection from the moment of creation. There’s no requirement to register your work to receive this protection, although registration can be helpful in resolving disputes, depending on the jurisdiction.

For a work to qualify for copyright protection, it must be the author’s original creation and possess at least a minimal amount of creativity. While copyright safeguards the rights of creators, it also maintains a balance with the public’s need to access and enjoy creative works. Copyrights are generally time-limited; after a certain period, a work enters the “public domain,” where it becomes freely available for anyone to use. The duration of copyright protection varies based on the laws and regulations of each country.

It’s important to understand that copyright doesn’t protect ideas or facts themselves—only the unique expression of those ideas, such as the specific words, images, or designs you create.

Let’s say you have an idea for a story about a dog that becomes a hero in its town. The idea itself—that a dog becomes a hero—is not protected by copyright. However, if you write a book or create a video that tells this story in your own unique way, using your specific characters, dialogue, and scenes, then that particular expression of the idea is protected by copyright. So, while anyone can create their own version of a story about a heroic dog, they cannot copy your specific text, images, or the exact way you’ve presented the story without your permission.

2. Respecting Copyrights and Posting on Animaat:

Animaat celebrates the creativity and passion of its community, encouraging members to share their original content. When you post on Animaat, you’re confirming that you either own the copyright to your content or have secured the necessary permissions or licenses from the copyright holder, in line with our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use concerning intellectual property rights. This applies to all forms of creative work, including images, videos, text, and more.

Failure to adhere to these guidelines may lead to the removal of your content and further actions as outlined in our policy.

There are circumstances where you might use someone else’s content legally, such as when the work is in the public domain, falls under fair use, or is exceptionally used for quotation, criticism, or review. However, it’s important to remember that copyright infringement can occur even if:

  • You noticed others sharing the same content: Just because content is widely shared doesn’t mean it’s free to use. It’s important to respect the original creator’s rights.
  • You credited the original creator: Giving credit is important, but it doesn’t replace the need to get proper permission or a license from the copyright holder.
  • You had no intention of profiting from it: Even if your use is non-commercial, you could still be infringing on someone’s copyright. Intent doesn’t change the need for permission.
  • You modified the content or added your own creative touch: Adding your original work to someone else’s doesn’t necessarily make it yours. Always ensure you have the right to use the underlying content.
  • The content was readily available online: Just because content is accessible online doesn’t mean it’s free to use. Always check the usage rights before sharing through one of the following actions:
  • Check the post details as sometimes users include information about usage rights in the post description.
  • Check for any copyright symbols (©) or statements indicating ownership or usage rights in the post.
  • Review the comments as often users may discuss the ownership or permissions in the comments section.
  • Visit the profile of the content creator. They may have a bio or a pinned post detailing their copyright policy or usage rights.
  • Directly contact the creator by sending a direct message to the original poster to ask for permission or clarification on usage rights.
  • Check for watermarks or attribution in the displayed Images or videos indicating ownership or licensing terms.
  • You believed it to be fair use: Fair use is complex and varies by jurisdiction. Always consider whether your use truly qualifies, and when in doubt, seek permission.
  • You purchased or downloaded the content legally: Owning a copy of the content doesn’t automatically give you the right to share it on Animaat. Usage rights are often limited to personal use.
  • You recorded the content on your device: Recording something yourself doesn’t mean you own the rights to it, especially if it involves someone else’s creative work. Always ensure your use respects copyright laws.
  • You found it on a public domain platform: Even if content is labeled as public domain, it’s essential to verify that it truly is before using it freely. Mislabeling happens, and it’s your responsibility to ensure compliance.

By respecting these guidelines, you contribute to a community where the rights of creators are honored, and creativity is thriving.

3. User Responsibilities:

Honoring Attribution

When sharing content that incorporates the work of others, you must clearly and accurately credit the original creator, in line with the license governing that content. Misrepresenting the source or creator of any work is strictly prohibited.

Prohibited Actions

  • Uploading Unauthorized Content: Sharing or distributing content without legal rights, including pirated material, is not allowed and goes against the spirit of our community.
  • Bypassing Copyright Protections: Attempting to circumvent or disable measures designed to protect content from unauthorized use or distribution is strictly forbidden at Animaat.
  • Falsely Claiming Ownership: Claiming authorship or ownership of content you didn’t create is dishonest and unacceptable. Upholding honesty and integrity is crucial to maintaining trust within our community.

Filing a Complaint

If you believe your copyrighted work has been used on Animaat without your permission, we’re here to help you protect your rights. You can file a complaint through this form or use the reporting tool directly on the post in question. Often, a direct message to the person who shared the content can resolve the issue amicably.

Only the copyright owner or their authorized representative can file an infringement report. When you file a report, we share the copyright owner’s name, email address, and details of the report, including the report number and appeal instructions, with the person who posted the content. It’s important to provide accurate and valid information to ensure the process runs smoothly.

Before submitting a report, please make sure the content you’re reporting isn’t a permissible use of your copyright or trademark. If in doubt, seek legal advice before filing the report.

Because intellectual property infringement is a serious matter, knowingly submitting false or misleading reports could lead to consequences, including the termination of your Animaat account. In some jurisdictions, this may also result in legal liability for damages.

When you submit a report to Animaat through our form, you’ll receive an automated response with your report details and a report number. Keep this number handy for any follow-up inquiries. Our team may reach out for more information to assist in processing your report.

If you need to withdraw your report—perhaps due to a resolution with the content poster or if the report was made in error—you can do so via the withdrawal link provided in our automated response or through this form. Once the withdrawal is processed, we will restore the content unless technical limitations or other unrelated reasons prevent it.

Information to Include in Your report:

  • A detailed description of the copyrighted work you believe has been infringed.
  • The URL or specific location on Animaat where the infringing material is found.
  • A statement affirming your good faith belief that the use of the material is unauthorized by the copyright owner, their agent, or the law.
  • A declaration that the information in your report is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on their behalf.
  • Your contact information, including your name, telephone number, and email address.
  • Your physical or electronic signature.

Counter-Notice

If your content has been removed due to a copyright complaint and you believe it was mistakenly taken down, you have the right to file a counter-notice. We want to ensure that your voice is heard and that any misunderstandings are swiftly addressed.

You can use this form to file your counter notice or use the appeal link provided in the email you received when the violation was made.

What to Include in Your Counter-Notice:

  • Identification of the Material: Clearly identify the content that was removed and specify where it was located on Animaat before it was taken down.
  • Statement of Good Faith: Include a statement under penalty of perjury affirming your good faith belief that the material was removed due to a mistake or misidentification.
  • Contact Information: Provide your name, address, telephone number, and a statement that you accept service of process from the person who filed the original copyright complaint.
  • Signature: Your physical or electronic signature is required to validate your counter-notice.

Once we receive a valid counter-notice, we will review it carefully. If the original complainant does not file a lawsuit against you within ten business days of receiving your counter-notice, we may restore the removed content.

We’re committed to fairness and transparency in handling copyright issues and ensuring that every creator on Animaat is treated with respect. Thank you for working with us to keep our community thriving!

Content Removal:

When content on Animaat infringes on copyright, it will be swiftly removed following a valid complaint. If you believe your content was removed in error, please review the removal notice carefully. It will include details on your options, such as verifying your right to use the content or resolving the issue directly with the rights owner using the contact information provided.

Account Actions:

Repeated copyright infringement may lead to more serious consequences, including suspension, termination, or limitations on your account, such as restrictions on posting or using certain features. Animaat takes patterns of infringing behavior seriously and reserves the right to take action to protect our community and uphold the integrity of the platform.

Legal Actions:

Animaat stands with creators and copyright holders in protecting their rights. We may cooperate in legal proceedings against users who violate copyright laws, ensuring that our platform remains a safe and respectful space for original content creation and sharing.

6. License to Use Your Content:

When you share your creative works on Animaat, you’re contributing to a vibrant community of animal lovers, and we deeply value your contributions. By posting content on Animaat, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license that allows us to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, display, and perform your content. This license also extends to our affiliates and partners, enabling us to promote and share the incredible content created by our community across various media formats and channels.

Rest assured; this license is flexible. If you decide to delete your content or even your account, this license will end—unless your content has already been shared with others who haven’t deleted it.

7. Fair Use and Exceptions:

At Animaat, we honor the spirit of creativity by upholding copyright laws, while also recognizing the importance of fair use—a principle that allows certain uses of copyrighted material without explicit permission from the owner. However, fair use is a nuanced legal concept with specific criteria, and not all uses will qualify. It’s essential to understand that the application of exceptions and limitations to copyright can vary across different countries.

Fair use often applies in situations like criticism, commentary, parody, satire, news reporting, teaching, education, and research. While it may be challenging to determine if your use of copyrighted material qualifies as fair use, the law provides some guiding factors:

  • Purpose and Character: Non-commercial, educational, or transformative uses are more likely to be considered fair use. Using content for profit is less likely to qualify.
  • Amount Used: Using smaller, less significant portions of the work is more likely to be considered fair use. Using large portions or the essence of the work is less likely to qualify.
  • Impact on the Original Work: If your use negatively impacts the market for the original work—by reducing its sales or views, for instance—it’s less likely to be considered fair use.

Remember, fair use is a powerful tool for creativity and commentary, but it requires careful consideration and respect for the original creator’s rights.

8. Policy Updates

Animaat reserves the right to update this Copyright Policy at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting. Continued use of the platform after changes are made constitutes acceptance of the new policy.

9. Contact Information

For any questions or concerns about this Copyright Policy, or to file a notice of copyright infringement, please contact us at:

Email: contact@animaat.com
Mailing Address: Animaat LLC
Swiss Plaza Building, 80, St. 250,
Maadi, Cairo, Egypt, 11728.