Anti-Fraud Policy

Overtone Distribution is committed to maintaining a transparent, fair and trustworthy music distribution ecosystem.

We believe that artists and rights holders should be rewarded for genuine creativity, authentic audience engagement and legitimate commercial activity.

Fraudulent streaming, artificial engagement, royalty manipulation, copyright infringement and deceptive business practices undermine the music industry and negatively affect artists, labels, streaming platforms and rights holders.

Overtone maintains a zero-tolerance approach to deliberate fraud and will take appropriate action against activities that compromise the integrity of our services.

Fraudulent activity includes, but is not limited to:

Artificial Streaming

• Purchasing artificial streams or automated plays.
• Using bots, click farms or automated systems to inflate streaming numbers.
• Paying third parties to generate artificial engagement.
• Participating in streaming manipulation schemes.
• Using unauthorised playlisting services that guarantee streams or placements through artificial activity.

Royalty Fraud

• Manipulating streaming activity to generate illegitimate royalty payments.
• Submitting fraudulent royalty claims.
• Creating artificial accounts or listening activity.
• Misrepresenting ownership or revenue entitlements.
• Attempting to collect royalties belonging to another rights holder.

Intellectual Property Fraud

• Distributing music without the necessary rights or permissions.
• Uploading stolen, plagiarised or unauthorised recordings.
• Submitting false ownership splits or songwriter credits.
• Impersonating artists, producers, labels or rights holders.
• Submitting falsified licensing or rights documentation.

Platform and Account Abuse

• Creating fraudulent artist profiles.
• Circumventing DSP policies or security measures.
• Providing false identity or business information.
• Using unauthorised access to manipulate accounts, analytics or reporting.

All artists, labels, managers and rights holders working with Overtone are responsible for ensuring that their music and promotional activities comply with applicable laws, distribution agreements and digital platform policies.

You must:

• Ensure that all distributed content is properly authorised.
• Use legitimate marketing and promotional services.
• Avoid artificial streaming and engagement schemes.
• Provide accurate ownership and royalty information.
• Cooperate with reasonable investigations into suspicious activity.
• Report suspected fraud or intellectual property abuse.

Overtone may review distribution activity, streaming reports, royalty data, metadata, account information and other relevant information to identify suspicious behaviour.

Where potential fraud is identified, Overtone may:

• Request additional documentation or verification.
• Conduct an internal investigation.
• Contact relevant digital platforms or service providers.
• Restrict or suspend affected releases.
• Temporarily withhold disputed or potentially fraudulent payments where contractually and legally permitted.
• Terminate services or distribution agreements where justified.
• Report suspected criminal conduct to appropriate authorities.

Any action taken will be proportionate to the circumstances and subject to applicable contractual and legal requirements.

Confirmed fraudulent activity may result in:

• Removal or takedown of affected releases.
• Suspension of distribution services.
• Withholding or reversal of fraudulent royalties, where permitted.
• Termination of commercial relationships.
• Recovery of losses or costs where contractually or legally justified.
• Referral to relevant streaming platforms, rights organisations or law enforcement authorities.

Overtone will not knowingly facilitate or participate in fraudulent streaming or royalty manipulation.

We encourage artists, labels, rights holders, partners and members of the public to report suspected fraudulent activity.

Reports should include as much relevant information as possible, including:

• Artist or label name.
• Release or catalogue details.
• Description of the suspected activity.
• Supporting documentation or evidence.
• Relevant links or platform references.

Reports can be submitted to hello@overtonedistro.com.

All reports will be handled with appropriate confidentiality and reviewed in accordance with Overtone's internal procedures.

Overtone recognises that unusual streaming patterns or sudden increases in audience activity do not automatically establish fraud.

Investigations will consider the available evidence, relevant platform information and circumstances surrounding the activity.

Where appropriate, affected parties may be given an opportunity to provide clarification or supporting documentation.

Overtone may update this policy to address emerging forms of fraud, changes in digital music distribution and evolving industry standards.