Question 1

Who owns the copyright in songs I make with Mouta?

Accepted Answer

Under the Terms of Service, you keep all copyright and other intellectual property rights in music you create with Mouta, including the lyrics, melodies and arrangements you write yourself. If you release through Mouta, we only receive the limited license needed to distribute each track — not ownership. You do, however, grant Mouta a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual license, limited to playing and displaying your work on the platform, Mouta's own promotion, marketing and advertising, and training our AI models in aggregated or transformed form. Works made with AI features also carry a 10% royalty obligation (see the next question). And keep in mind that whether AI-assisted content can be protected by copyright is still unsettled in current law and practice; the final word belongs to the courts or the competent authorities.

Question 2

If I used AI features on a song but don't release it through Mouta, do I still owe 10%?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If a work contains content that Ledger recorded as generated by, or adopted from, any Mouta AI feature — such as AI generation, Replace, lyric-tone substitution, melody library suggestions, AI Mentor suggestions or Skills — 10% of all its royalty income (streaming, downloads, physical sales, public performance and sync included) is payable to Mouta, whichever platform or distributor releases it. The obligation is perpetual and irrevocable. It doesn't depend on whether you keep your subscription, and for works created before your account ends, it continues after termination. For income Mouta doesn't collect, the 10% is based on the net amount you actually receive after each channel, distributor and collecting society takes its share; if that income adds up to less than US$100 for a year, there's nothing to report or pay for that year.

Question 3

How do I report and pay the 10% on income earned outside Mouta (other distributors, publishing, performance royalties, sync)?

Accepted Answer

By March 31 each year, report to Mouta the previous year's income of this kind, listing the works involved, and pay the 10% within 30 days of reporting. If that income totals less than US$100 for the year, you don't need to report or pay. The 10% is calculated on what you actually receive, net of fees taken by each channel, distributor and collecting society. Keep records of this income for 5 years; Mouta may audit your reports after giving reasonable notice. Late payments accrue interest at the statutory rate under Taiwan (R.O.C.) law, and Mouta may also offset the amount against royalties it owes you under Article 5.2 of the Distribution Service Agreement. Sync income from deals Mouta negotiated for you, where Mouta has already taken its 20% agency fee, isn't subject to the 10%. Royalties Mouta collects through its own distribution service have the 10% deducted at source, so you don't report those.

Question 4

Can I release covers or adaptations of someone else's songs?

Accepted Answer

Not through Mouta's distribution service: it accepts only original compositions and lyrics, and covers or adaptations of other people's songs are not accepted. Mouta reviews submissions and may reject or suspend any release that doesn't meet its rules. If such a track does get released and a license or usage fee has to be paid to a collecting society or rights holder, whatever Mouta has to pay may be deducted from that track's royalties. The Terms of Service also prohibit uploading, generating or distributing content that infringes anyone else's intellectual property.

Question 5

Can the same song be on DistroKid or another distributor at the same time?

Accepted Answer

No. From the day you submit a track to Mouta for release until it has been removed from every DSP (the exclusive period), that track — including the same recording — can't be delivered through any other distributor or platform. If Mouta temporarily takes a track down over an infringement dispute or irregular activity, the exclusive period keeps running. Other recordings of the same composition, such as a re-recording, remix or live version, can only be released through Mouta during that period too. If you want to switch, take the track down from Mouta first under the agreement. The exclusive period ends at the latest 90 days after your takedown notice, though you still can't deliver the track to any DSP that hasn't finished removing it. It also ends if Mouta rejects the submission, if you withdraw it before it goes live, or if it still isn't live on any DSP 90 days after submission. Songs you haven't submitted to Mouta are yours to release wherever you like.

Question 6

Why do I have to wait 3 days before agreeing to the distribution agreement?

Accepted Answer

It's the review period set out in Article 14.8 of the Distribution Service Agreement. We email you the full agreement when you sign up, and it's always published on the platform, where you can read, download and save it. You can only complete the consent step once 3 days have passed since the full text was first provided to you, so you have time to read it before deciding. Mouta keeps a record of when the text was provided, when you agreed, and which version you agreed to.

Question 7

Can Ledger or an .llg file prove a song is mine?

Accepted Answer

Not as legal proof. Ledger records how you made the work — your editing history, the degree of AI involvement and the sources of materials you used — for transparency and reference only. It isn't legal proof of authorship or a final determination of who owns the copyright. Mouta makes no promise about whether a recorded work qualifies for copyright or whether your human contribution meets the threshold for protection; that is for the courts or competent authorities to decide. When an .llg passes verification at release, it only means the track meets Mouta's acceptance criteria — not that Mouta vouches for its ownership, originality or non-infringement.

Question 8

If an AI-generated melody sounds like someone else's song, who's responsible?

Accepted Answer

You are. Mouta doesn't guarantee that AI-generated content is original or that it isn't similar to existing works. You're responsible for making sure what you create, publish or distribute with Mouta is lawful, and Mouta isn't liable for third-party intellectual property claims arising from your use of AI-generated content. If a third party brings a claim against Mouta over it, you'll need to cover Mouta's losses, including reasonable legal and court costs; Mouta will notify you once it learns of the claim, you can take part in the defense, and you won't owe any settlement amount you didn't agree to. If a track you released through Mouta faces an infringement claim, Mouta may take it down first and hold back that track's royalties up to the amount being claimed.

Question 9

How often are royalties paid, and how?

Accepted Answer

Payment cycles follow our distributor's actual settlement cycle. Mouta posts the current cycle on the platform and will let you know if it changes. Within 60 days of receiving a period's settlement from the distributor, Mouta pays you using the method you registered on the platform (cross-border payments go through Airwallex) and posts your royalty statement in your dashboard. Royalties are calculated in US dollars; if you're paid in another currency, it's converted at the payment provider's rate at the time of payment. If you're owed less than US$50 for a period, it rolls over to the next one. You can ask to be paid early at any time, but you'll cover the transfer fee.

Question 10

I'm outside Taiwan (or not a Taiwan tax resident). How much tax will be withheld?

Accepted Answer

The agreement doesn't set a fixed rate. Mouta withholds only where Taiwan (R.O.C.) tax law requires it, and gives you a withholding certificate or equivalent proof afterwards. You'll need to provide proof of identity and tax residence; if you don't, or the information is false, the non-resident rate applies. If a tax treaty lets you claim a reduction or exemption, it's up to you to apply and supply the documents. If the tax authority or Mouta's accountant confirms that too much was withheld, Mouta returns the excess; if it has already been paid to the government, Mouta will file for the refund on your behalf or help you do so, and pass it on in the settlement cycle after the refund arrives.

Question 11

What happens if my streams are flagged as fake or artificially boosted?

Accepted Answer

If Mouta, the distributor or a DSP detects irregular activity such as bot traffic or fake plays, Mouta may suspend payouts, take the track down or restrict your account, and will email you the reasons and evidence within 7 days. You have 30 days to respond with an explanation and supporting evidence, and Mouta will reply within 14 days of receiving it; if it turns out nothing was wrong, the track goes back up and the withheld payments are released. In serious cases, Mouta may terminate the distribution agreement without prior warning. Separately, if a DSP or the distributor claws back royalties already paid because of artificial streaming, Mouta may, after notifying you, deduct that amount from your future royalties (from any track). Anything left over must be repaid within 30 days, as must any fines or fees caused by boosting. You can file a written objection within 90 days of the notice.

Question 12

I want to take a song down. How long does it take?

Accepted Answer

You can ask Mouta to take down any or all of your releases at any time, and Mouta will send the takedown request to the distributor within 10 business days of your notice. When each DSP actually removes the track depends on that platform's own schedule, which Mouta can't control, but we'll keep you updated. If you take everything down, the agreement ends on the date Mouta sends the full takedown request to the distributor, and you can still export the files and .llg records of your released tracks for at least 30 days from then. Note that royalty income the work earns after the takedown is still subject to the 10% under Section 5.2 of the Terms of Service, which you report and pay yourself.

Question 13

Does my subscription renew automatically? How do I cancel?

Accepted Answer

Yes. At the end of each billing period, monthly or annual, your subscription renews at the price in effect at that time until you cancel. Paddle emails a renewal reminder and receipt for every charge to the address you used at checkout. You can cancel for free at any time: in your account settings in Mouta, through the subscription management link in any Paddle receipt, or at paddle.net. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period and you can keep using Mouta until then, but cancelling doesn't by itself entitle you to a refund for the remaining time. Mouta gives 30 days' notice before changing prices.

Question 14

Can I get a refund?

Accepted Answer

Generally no. Mouta offers a 14-day free trial before charging anything so you can evaluate it first, so apart from the exceptions below, all transactions are final and non-refundable. The exceptions are: your statutory rights under the consumer protection laws where you live (for example, Taiwan consumers who didn't agree at purchase to immediate access can cancel in writing within 7 days, and EU and UK consumers who didn't confirm at checkout that the service should start immediately have a 14-day withdrawal right); the limited refund on a first annual purchase (see the next question); and duplicate or verified unauthorized charges, where a refund may be considered. If a major technical problem leaves you completely unable to use Mouta and support can't fix it within 7 business days of your report, Mouta may, at its discretion, give you a prorated service credit (not a refund) for the affected period. To request a refund, email support@moutastudio.com with the subject Refund Request, including your account email, purchase date and reason; Mouta replies within 5 business days, and approved refunds are returned by Paddle to your original payment method.

Question 15

I bought an annual plan and changed my mind. Can I get a full refund?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but only for your first annual purchase, within 14 days of buying it, and only if all three conditions are met: it's your first annual subscription, not a renewal; you've used no more than 130 tokens since the purchase date (the same for every annual plan, Founding Member included); and since the purchase date you haven't made any local export (MIDI, WAV, .llg or LSK) or published or submitted for release anything made with Mouta (private uploads only you can see don't count). If you meet all of them, you get the full annual fee back. The threshold that applies is the one in effect on your purchase date. This exception doesn't cover renewals, although UK consumers have a separate statutory cancellation right at each renewal.

Question 16

Will my work be used to train AI?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Under the license in Section 5.4 of the Terms of Service, Mouta may use what you create and generate in Mouta — including musical structure, AI interaction patterns and generated results — in aggregated or transformed form to train and improve its AI models. Mouta doesn't hand your work to third parties as-is, and doesn't label it as yours. Mouta also uses de-identified, aggregated data about how you create, such as Skill usage patterns and Replace interactions, to improve its models. Audio files you upload from outside sources are not used for training unless you separately agree.

Question 17

Can I opt out of AI training?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A notice under the Terms of Service covers only work you create going forward. You can email Mouta at any time asking that works you create after your notice (including their generated results) not be used for AI training, and Mouta will stop including them in new training within 30 days of receiving it; a work counts as created when its project was first set up. Works created before your notice can still be used under the license, and models already trained aren't affected. De-identified data about how you create (such as Skill usage and de-identified AI interaction patterns) is outside the scope of the notice. You can withdraw the notice at any time, and works created while it was in effect still won't be used for training. If the data protection law where you live gives you a separate right to object, you can also exercise it under Section 9 of the Privacy Policy by contacting support@moutastudio.com.

Question 18

What happens to my data and released songs if I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

After your account is deleted, your personal data is deleted or de-identified within 90 days. Data we're legally required to keep, or that's needed to perform the distribution agreement, collect or pay royalties, or pursue or defend legal claims, is kept only as long as necessary and only for those purposes, and royalty-related records (Ledger data and transaction records) are kept for at least 7 years. If you've used the distribution service, Mouta will email you before deletion to choose: (a) take everything down, or (b) treat your tracks as if your subscription ended on the deletion date, under the same retention rules that apply when you stop subscribing. If you don't choose within 14 days, (a) applies, and the account is only deleted after you choose or the 14 days are up. Mouta lets you export your released tracks' files and .llg records before deletion, and you can still request an export through support for 30 days afterwards. Mouta also keeps your payout details and contact email until your final royalty payment, sending statements to that address — so if you choose (b), keep it active; if it bounces, a notice posted on our site counts as delivered after 30 days, after which the track can be taken down under the retention rules. Finally, the 10% royalty obligation on works you've already created and the license you granted Mouta (including AI training) survive account termination, though you can still ask Mouta to stop promotional use or give notice that your works not be used for AI training.

Before you release, know where you stand.

Before you release

After release

Billing and refunds

Your data