Copyright Policy & Takedown Requests

What's Allowed

You may only submit or paste content you:

• Own, or
• Have permission to use, or
• Are legally allowed to use (e.g., content in the public domain)

Understanding Recipe Copyright

We want to help you share and organize recipes legally. It is important to understand what is—and is not—protected by copyright law in Canada and the United States:

• Ingredients are Facts: A mere listing of ingredients (e.g., "2 cups of flour, 1 tsp salt") is generally considered a factual statement or functional list and is not protected by copyright. You may freely share or paste ingredient lists.
• Instructions are Creative Expression: While the "method" of cooking cannot be copyrighted, the specific words used to describe it are protected. "Substantial literary expression"—such as personal stories, detailed anecdotes, creative cooking tips, and original photographs—is fully protected by copyright.
• The "Adaptation" Rule: If you want to save a recipe from a third-party site into our Service, the safest legal approach is to list the ingredients and then rewrite the instructions in your own words. Copying and pasting "flavor text" (the blogger's personal stories) is a common cause of copyright complaints.
• Attribution is Best Practice: Even if a recipe is not technically copyrighted, we encourage you to provide a link back to the original creator as a professional courtesy and to respect the culinary community.
• Third-Party Content: You are solely responsible for ensuring you have the legal right or permission to paste full-text content from third-party websites into the Service.

Our Response to Infringement Claims

Internal Enforcement

If we receive a sufficiently detailed notice alleging copyright infringement, we may, at our discretion:

• Remove or disable access to the allegedly infringing content;
• Notify the User who posted the content; and
• Apply our Repeat Infringer Policy as detailed below.

Canadian "Notice and Notice" Compliance

In accordance with the Canadian Copyright Act, Orange Tree operates under a "Notice and Notice" regime. When we receive a valid notice that meets all legal requirements, we will:

• Forward the Notice: As soon as feasible, forward the notice electronically to the User associated with the alleged infringement.
• Inform the Claimant: Notify the copyright owner once the notice has been forwarded or explain why it was not possible to do so.
• Retain Records: Keep records identifying the alleged infringer for six (6) months, or for one (1) year if legal proceedings are commenced and we are notified.
• Reject Prohibited Content: We will not forward any notice that contains an offer to settle, a demand for payment, or references to such demands.

Note to Users: Receiving a forwarded notice is an allegation of infringement and does not automatically establish legal liability. Orange Tree is not legally obligated to remove content solely upon receipt of a notice under this regime, though we reserve the right to do so voluntarily if we believe our Terms of Service have been violated.

Repeat Infringer Policy (The "Three-Strike" Rule)

To protect our service and community, we implement a graduated response for accounts that repeatedly violate these terms:

• First Strike: The User receives a formal warning, which may include educational information on copyright compliance.
• Second Strike: The account is temporarily suspended for thirty (30) days.
• Third Strike: The account is permanently terminated, and the User is prohibited from creating new accounts.

We determine a "strike" based on receipt of a valid, unopposed notice of infringement. We reserve the right to terminate accounts immediately for willful or extreme violations.

How to Submit a Takedown Request

Email support@orange-tree.org with subject: "Copyright Takedown Request" and include:

• Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to be infringed
• Identification of the material to remove (include exact text, screenshots, and where it appears in the Service)
• Your name and contact information (email + phone)
• A statement that you have a good-faith belief the use is not authorized
• A statement that the information is accurate

We may request additional information to locate the content or verify your request.

Counter-Notice (Disputes)

If content was removed and you believe it was removed by mistake or misidentification, you may contact us at support@orange-tree.org with:

• The location and description of the removed content
• An explanation of why you believe removal was in error
• Your contact information

We will review and may restore content where appropriate.

Contact

1563527 B.C. LTD. (operating as Orange Tree), 2214 Shannon Hills Place, West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada V4T 2V1

Email: support@orange-tree.org