Terms of Service

Last updated: February 13, 2026

Welcome to Sonusly, an independent platform for music lovers to discover, discuss, and share songs. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Sonusly website and services (collectively, the "Services").

Please read these Terms carefully. These Terms contain an arbitration agreement and class action waiver that affect your legal rights. By using Sonusly, you agree to resolve disputes through binding individual arbitration and waive your right to participate in class actions. See Section 13 for details.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Sonusly, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Services.

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. When we do:

  • We will post the updated Terms on this page
  • We will update the "Last updated" date
  • Changes become effective 14 days after posting, except:
    • Changes addressing new features are effective immediately
    • Changes made for legal reasons are effective immediately

Your continued use of the Services after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

2. Eligibility

Age requirements:

  • You must be at least 13 years old to create an account and use Sonusly
  • If you are between 13 and 18 years old (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction), you represent that your parent or legal guardian has reviewed and agreed to these Terms on your behalf
  • By creating an account, you represent and warrant that you meet these age requirements

If we learn that a user is under 13, we will terminate their account and delete their personal information.

3. Account Registration and Security

Registration

To access most features of Sonusly, you must create an account. When registering, you agree to:

  • Provide accurate, current, and complete information
  • Maintain and update your information as needed
  • Choose a username that:
    • is 15 characters or fewer
    • does not impersonate another person or entity
    • does not violate the rights of others
    • is not offensive, misleading, or inappropriate

Account security

You are responsible for:

  • Maintaining the confidentiality of your password
  • All activities that occur under your account
  • Notifying us immediately at contact@sonusly.com (Subject: Security Issue) of any unauthorized access

Sonusly is not liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to protect your account credentials.

One account per person

You may only create and maintain one account. Creating multiple accounts to manipulate votes, evade bans, or circumvent limits is strictly prohibited.

4. User Conduct

You agree to use Sonusly in a lawful and respectful manner. The following conduct is prohibited:

Prohibited content

You may not post content that:

  • is illegal, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, or otherwise objectionable
  • infringes on any intellectual property rights or violates any law
  • contains spam, advertisements, or promotional content without authorization
  • is sexually explicit or pornographic
  • incites violence, hatred, or discrimination
  • contains malware, viruses, or harmful code
  • invades another person's privacy
  • is false, misleading, or deceptive

prohibited activities

you may not:

  • impersonate any person or entity, or misrepresent your affiliation
  • manipulate votes, comments, or karma through multiple accounts, coordinated activity, bots, or any artificial means
  • buy, sell, or exchange accounts, karma, votes, or any aspect of your account
  • use automated systems (bots, scrapers, crawlers) to access the services without our express written permission
  • circumvent any security features, rate limits, or access restrictions
  • interfere with the proper functioning of the services
  • harvest information about other users without consent
  • spam or flood the services with repetitive content
  • evade bans by creating new accounts

community standards

  • be respectful to other users, even when disagreeing
  • stay on topic and contribute meaningfully to discussions
  • do not engage in personal attacks or harassment
  • report violations to help maintain community quality

5. content and intellectual property

your content

when you post content on Sonusly (posts, comments, profile information), you retain ownership of your content but grant us the following license:

you grant Sonusly a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, transferable, sublicensable license to use, display, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, and distribute your content in connection with operating and improving the services.

you represent and warrant that:

  • you own or have the necessary rights to post your content
  • your content does not violate these terms or any applicable laws
  • your content does not infringe on the rights of any third party

responsibility for your content

you are solely responsible for all content and information that you submit, post, upload, publish, display, or otherwise make available on or via the services ("user content"), including without limitation any post titles, descriptions, comments, replies, messages, links, and any other text or material you write in Sonusly.

without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

  • all statements, opinions, and representations made in your user content are made solely by you and not by Sonusly
  • you are solely responsible for ensuring that your user content is accurate, lawful, and compliant with these terms and all applicable laws and regulations
  • you are solely responsible for any consequences, claims, or liability arising out of or relating to your user content, including any reliance on such content by others

Sonusly does not endorse, control, or assume any responsibility for any user content and expressly disclaims any and all liability in connection with user content to the maximum extent permitted by law.

public nature of content

you acknowledge that:

  • posts, comments, and profile information are publicly visible
  • saved posts and saved songs are publicly visible on your profile
  • other users may view, share, and respond to your content
  • we are not responsible for how others use publicly available content

Sonusly platform

the Sonusly platform, including its design, features, user interface, text, graphics, logos, and software, is owned by Sonusly and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

you may not:

  • copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works of the platform
  • use any automated means to access or collect data from Sonusly
  • reverse engineer or attempt to extract source code
  • remove any copyright, trademark, or proprietary notices

music content and Spotify

song information, album artwork, and other music-related content displayed on Sonusly is provided by Spotify through their API. this content:

  • remains the property of Spotify, artists, labels, and other rights holders
  • is displayed pursuant to Spotify's API terms of service
  • may not be copied, downloaded, or distributed outside of Sonusly
  • is subject to Spotify's terms of service

we do not claim ownership of any music, recordings, or related content.

6. Spotify integration

how we use Spotify

Sonusly uses the Spotify API to display music information such as song titles, artist names, album artwork, and discography data. this integration:

  • uses a server-side connection to the Spotify API
  • does not require you to have a Spotify account to browse Sonusly
  • allows you to search for songs and explore artist pages

Spotify API usage

our use of the Spotify API is subject to Spotify's developer terms. we:

  • do not require users to have a Spotify account
  • do not store audio content or facilitate piracy
  • display Spotify attribution as required

Spotify availability

Spotify-powered features (song search, artist pages, album artwork) depend on Spotify's API availability. these features may be affected by:

  • Spotify service outages or API changes
  • geographic availability of Spotify
  • changes to Spotify's developer policies

7. voting and karma system

Sonusly uses a voting system where users can upvote posts. your accumulated upvotes are displayed as "karma."

rules

  • authentic voting only: votes must be genuine and reflect your actual opinion
  • no manipulation: using multiple accounts, coordinated voting, or automated systems is prohibited
  • no trading: buying, selling, or exchanging votes or karma is strictly prohibited
  • adjustments: we reserve the right to adjust votes or karma if we detect manipulation

karma has no value

karma is for community recognition only. it has no monetary value and cannot be redeemed for any goods, services, or real-world benefits.

8. content moderation

Sonusly reserves the right, but has no obligation, to:

  • review, monitor, or remove any content at any time for any reason
  • suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms
  • investigate and take action against violations
  • cooperate with law enforcement when required

we do not pre-screen content, but we may remove content that:

  • violates these terms
  • is reported by users and found to violate our policies
  • is otherwise objectionable in our sole discretion

we are not responsible for content posted by users. you use the services at your own risk.

9. copyright and DMCA

respect for intellectual property

Sonusly respects the intellectual property rights of others. if you believe your work has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, please submit a DMCA notice.

DMCA notice requirements

send written notice to our designated agent including:

  1. your physical or electronic signature
  2. identification of the copyrighted work claimed to be infringed
  3. identification of the material claimed to be infringing, with sufficient detail to locate it
  4. your contact information (address, phone number, email)
  5. a statement that you have a good faith belief the use is not authorized
  6. a statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information is accurate and you are authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner

send DMCA notices to: contact@sonusly.com (subject: DMCA notice)

counter-notice

if you believe your content was removed by mistake or misidentification, you may submit a counter-notice including:

  1. your physical or electronic signature
  2. identification of the removed material and its location before removal
  3. a statement under penalty of perjury that you have a good faith belief the material was removed by mistake
  4. your name, address, phone number, and email
  5. consent to jurisdiction of federal court in your district
  6. agreement to accept service of process from the complainant

repeat infringer policy

in accordance with the DMCA, we will terminate accounts of users who are repeat infringers in appropriate circumstances.

10. third-party services and links

Sonusly contains links to third-party websites and integrates with third-party services (primarily Spotify).

  • we do not control these third parties
  • we are not responsible for their content, policies, or practices
  • your interactions with third parties are solely between you and them
  • we are not liable for any loss or claim arising from third-party services

11. disclaimers

the services are provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, and non-infringement.

Sonusly makes no warranty that:

  • the services will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free
  • results obtained from the services will be accurate or reliable
  • any errors will be corrected
  • the services will meet your requirements
  • data will not be lost or corrupted

you use the services at your own risk.

music content disclaimer

we do not guarantee the accuracy of song information, artist details, or other music-related content. this information is provided by third parties (primarily Spotify) and may contain errors.

no professional advice

nothing on Sonusly constitutes professional advice of any kind. user opinions about music are subjective and should not be relied upon for any important decisions.

12. limitation of liability

to the maximum extent permitted by law, Sonusly and its creator(s) shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits, revenue, data, goodwill, or use, whether based on contract, tort, strict liability, or any other legal theory, arising from or relating to:

  • your use of or inability to use the services
  • any content posted by users
  • unauthorized access to your account or data
  • interruption or cessation of the services
  • any third-party conduct or content
  • any other matter relating to the services

in no event shall Sonusly's total liability to you exceed one hundred dollars ($100) or the amount you paid us in the past twelve months, whichever is greater.

some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or limitation of liability. in such jurisdictions, our liability is limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

13. dispute resolution and arbitration

please read this section carefully. it affects your legal rights, including your right to file a lawsuit in court.

agreement to arbitrate

you and Sonusly agree that any disputes arising from or relating to these terms or the services shall be resolved through binding individual arbitration rather than in court, except that:

  • you may assert claims in small claims court if they qualify
  • either party may seek injunctive relief in court for intellectual property infringement

by agreeing to these terms, you and Sonusly waive the right to a trial by jury.

class action waiver

you and Sonusly agree that disputes will be resolved only on an individual basis and not as a class action, collective action, consolidated action, or representative action.

you may only seek relief (including monetary, injunctive, and declaratory relief) on an individual basis.

pre-arbitration resolution

before initiating arbitration, you agree to first contact us at contact@sonusly.com (subject: legal) to attempt to resolve the dispute informally. we will try to resolve it within 60 days. if we cannot, either party may proceed to arbitration.

arbitration procedures

  • arbitration will be conducted by a neutral arbitrator in accordance with the American Arbitration Association's ("AAA") consumer arbitration rules
  • arbitration may be conducted in person, by telephone, or online
  • the arbitrator's decision will be final and binding
  • the arbitrator may award the same relief as a court
  • judgment on the award may be entered in any court with jurisdiction

arbitration fees

payment of arbitration fees will be governed by AAA rules. for claims under $10,000, Sonusly will consider paying your filing fees and share of arbitrator fees if you cannot afford them.

opt-out

you may opt out of this arbitration agreement by sending written notice to contact@sonusly.com (subject: arbitration opt-out) within 30 days of first accepting these terms. your notice must include your name, username, email address, and a clear statement that you wish to opt out of arbitration.

exceptions

this arbitration agreement does not prevent you from bringing issues to the attention of federal, state, or local agencies. such agencies may seek relief on your behalf if the law allows.

severability

if any part of this arbitration agreement is found unenforceable, the rest remains in effect. however, if the class action waiver is found unenforceable, the entire arbitration agreement is void.

14. indemnification

you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Sonusly and its creator(s), affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

  • your use of the services
  • your content
  • your violation of these terms
  • your violation of any rights of another person or entity
  • your violation of any applicable laws

15. termination

by you

you may stop using the services at any time. to delete your account, contact us at contact@sonusly.com (subject: account deletion).

by us

we may suspend or terminate your account or access to the services at any time, with or without notice, for any reason, including:

  • violation of these terms
  • conduct we believe is harmful to other users or Sonusly
  • extended account inactivity
  • legal requirements

effects of termination

upon termination:

  • your right to use the services ends immediately
  • we may delete your account information
  • your posts and comments may remain visible but will be anonymized
  • provisions that by their nature should survive will survive (including sections 5, 11, 12, 13, 14)

we are not liable for any termination of your access to the services.

16. general terms

entire agreement

these terms, together with our privacy policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Sonusly regarding the services, superseding any prior agreements.

governing law

these terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.

jurisdiction

for any disputes not subject to arbitration, you agree to submit to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in San Francisco County, California.

severability

if any provision of these terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

no waiver

our failure to enforce any right or provision of these terms does not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.

assignment

you may not assign or transfer these terms without our written consent. we may assign or transfer these terms without restriction.

notices

we may provide notices to you via email, posting on the services, or other reasonable means. you may contact us at contact@sonusly.com.

changes to services

we reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the services (or any part) at any time with or without notice. we are not liable for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation.

statute of limitations

any claim arising from these terms or the services must be filed within one (1) year after the claim arose, or it will be permanently barred.

force majeure

we are not liable for any failure or delay caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, war, terrorism, riots, government actions, internet failures, or third-party service outages.

independent project

Sonusly is an independent project created by music enthusiasts. we are not a registered company, and these terms create a binding agreement between you and the individual(s) operating Sonusly.

17. contact us

if you have questions about these terms, please contact us:

email: contact@sonusly.com

when contacting us, please use one of the following subjects to help us route your request:

  • subject: legal - for legal matters or questions about these terms
  • subject: privacy request - for privacy-related questions
  • subject: DMCA notice - for copyright/DMCA matters
  • subject: security issue - for security concerns
  • subject: general - for all other inquiries

18. acknowledgments

by using Sonusly, you acknowledge that:

  • you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these terms
  • you are at least 13 years old
  • you will comply with all applicable laws and regulations
  • you understand the public nature of content posted on Sonusly

Sonusly is an independent platform created by music enthusiasts. we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Spotify AB, any record labels, music publishers, or artists. "Spotify" is a trademark of Spotify AB.

© 2026 Sonusly by Lorenzo Schiavone. all rights reserved.