WHFF.TV (whff.tv) and WHFF.Radio (whff.radio) are nonprofit, community-based streaming platforms operated by The Cognitive Institute of Dallas. Founded by Dr. Rachel Levitch, the Institute is a 501(c)(3) organization committed to advancing the mental, emotional, and digital well-being of Black and Brown families. Through this work, we support storytelling, emotional healing, and public media literacy while honoring legal frameworks around music and media distribution.
Our goal is to stream Creative Commons and public domain content lawfully, respectfully, and transparently — never for commercial resale, and always with full attribution. As a nonprofit, we do not profit from this music and we do not allow redistribution. Instead, we aim to support artists and rights holders while offering our community culturally relevant, legally sourced media. Our intent is to use streaming as a tool of empowerment, not exploitation. You can learn more about our values by visiting our transparency page.
We understand that licensing can be complex, especially in digital spaces where content moves quickly. That’s why we keep source records and unmodified audio archives of tracks used at the time of acquisition. We welcome rights holders to contact us if they have concerns — and we comply fully with U.S. copyright law and the DMCA Safe Harbor provisions. Our full DMCA policy is available here, and takedown notices can be submitted directly at stream.whff.tv/dmca.html.
At WHFF.TV and WHFF.Radio, operated by The Cognitive Institute of Dallas, we are committed to more than just sharing music responsibly. Our nonprofit platform supports the healing and empowerment of Black and Brown families by fostering a community that values storytelling, cultural heritage, and emotional well-being — all while honoring artists’ rights.
We exclusively stream music shared openly by artists under Creative Commons licenses or available in the public domain, ensuring all content respects copyright law and artist intent. Our founder, Dr. Rachel Levitch, brings expertise in mental health and digital security to this mission, helping us protect both the creative works and the families we serve.
Importantly, this initiative is about building a legacy — supporting families as they reclaim their histories and create a stronger foundation for future generations. Through careful stewardship of licensed content and ongoing transparency, we aim to foster a safe, respectful space where both artists and community members thrive.
If you are an artist or rights holder with questions or concerns about content on our platform, we encourage you to contact us. We welcome open dialogue and are committed to upholding the highest standards of respect and responsibility.
Under U.S. copyright law, artists have exclusive rights to control how their creations are used. Our service respects those rights by operating within the boundaries set by the law, including 17 U.S. Code § 106 (artists’ exclusive rights) and § 107 (the fair use doctrine).
Fair use is a legal principle that allows limited use of copyrighted works without permission for certain purposes, such as nonprofit educational activities. However, fair use is determined on a case-by-case basis, considering factors like purpose, nature, amount used, and effect on the market. Our community radio operates carefully within these guidelines to support learning and cultural sharing.
Every track you hear is licensed under a clear, legally binding Creative Commons license. These licenses act like contracts between artists and listeners, so we know exactly what’s allowed — sharing, remixing, or attribution — and make sure we honor those terms.
Every track you hear is shared under a Creative Commons license or is in the public domain. While we make reasonable efforts to include only properly licensed music, we encourage users and rights holders to verify the license status of any content they use or share, especially when considering redistribution or commercial use.
Because licensing terms can change or be misapplied, we rely on community cooperation to notify us of any concerns or changes to a work’s licensing status. We cannot guarantee perpetual validity of licenses or independently verify every license; therefore, rights holders and users should exercise due diligence.
If you believe a license has been changed or misrepresented, please contact us promptly with documentation so we can address the issue responsibly and in accordance with copyright law.
We comply fully with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Safe Harbor provisions. This means if an artist or rights holder asks us to remove their music, we will act promptly and responsibly to respect their wishes.
We also follow international copyright agreements like the Berne Convention, which protects artists’ rights worldwide — because creativity deserves respect everywhere.
We make every effort to stream music that is properly licensed under Creative Commons or is in the public domain. However, the nature of the internet means that licensing terms can sometimes change or be misunderstood over time.
Because of this, we do not maintain archived records of every license or source documentation for each track, and we cannot guarantee that licenses remain valid indefinitely. Licensing status is dynamic, and once content is shared online, it can be difficult—if not impossible—to fully retract or control its use.
In the world of digital content, this is a shared responsibility. We rely on community cooperation, including rights holders and users, to notify us if they believe a license has been changed, revoked, or misapplied. This helps us address concerns promptly and maintain a respectful environment for creators and listeners alike.
Legally, our platform is protected under frameworks such as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Safe Harbor, which allows us to operate responsibly without needing to verify every license upfront. Under the DMCA, we act quickly to remove any content when we receive valid copyright infringement notices, balancing protection for rights holders with practical operation online.
Similar principles are recognized internationally, such as in the European Union’s Copyright Directive Article 17, which emphasizes cooperation between platforms and rights holders to manage online content responsibly.
Because of these protections, as well as the realities of digital distribution, we encourage all users and rights holders to exercise due diligence. If you have concerns about licensing or believe that a track’s license status has changed, please contact us with relevant information. We are committed to promptly addressing such issues in good faith and with respect for all parties.
Creative Commons licenses are designed to provide clear, irrevocable permissions for sharing creative works. According to the official legal code:
“The Licensor may not revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.”
— Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License, Section 2(a)(5)(B)
This means that once an artist releases their work under a Creative Commons license, users are granted permanent rights to use that work according to the license terms. These rights generally cannot be withdrawn retroactively.
While the law provides these firm protections, we understand that the reality can sometimes be complicated. Artists may change how they distribute their work, update licenses for new uses, or restrict future sharing. The internet’s nature makes content widely accessible and difficult to fully retract once shared.
Because of this, while the original license grants lasting rights for uses under its terms, new uses or distributions might require renewed permission. This nuanced landscape requires patience, cooperation, and clear communication among creators, platforms, and users.
We strive to operate with full respect for creators’ rights and legal frameworks. We rely on community cooperation and encourage rights holders to notify us promptly of any licensing concerns or changes. We commit to responding swiftly and fairly to valid requests to ensure ongoing compliance.
Our platform is protected under laws like the DMCA Safe Harbor provisions, which balance the rights of creators with the realities of digital content sharing.
WHFF.TV (whff.tv) and WHFF.Radio (whff.radio) are based in Dallas, Texas, and operate under the laws of the State of Texas and the United States of America. Any disputes arising from the use of this platform, including copyright or licensing issues, will be governed by applicable Texas and federal laws. Users agree that jurisdiction for any legal matters will generally lie within these courts, unless otherwise required by law.
Our platform provides content on an “as-is” basis and does not guarantee uninterrupted access, perpetual license validity, or error-free streaming. While we take reasonable steps to ensure compliance with copyright law—streaming only Creative Commons-licensed or public domain music—license terms can change over time, and the ultimate responsibility for proper use lies with the user.
By using WHFF.TV and WHFF.Radio, users acknowledge their obligation to respect all copyright laws and licensing agreements. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of streamed content without proper authorization is the sole responsibility of the user and may result in legal consequences.
This platform is supported by The Cognitive Institute of Dallas, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing mental health, digital security, and community empowerment for Black and Brown families.
Our goal is to keep this community space open, fair, and legal — so you can enjoy great music while respecting the creators who make it possible. We operate with full transparency and legal care, supporting education and culture through responsible streaming.
As a nonprofit platform committed to digital inclusion and community service, we stream Creative Commons–licensed music and other publicly accessible media in good faith, honoring attribution and usage terms as defined by the original license. We do not claim ownership, alter content, or profit directly from the music unless explicitly permitted under the license.
Our mission is rooted in public access, education, and digital equity — making legal, community-centered media available without barriers. We uphold a standard of transparency and legal responsibility, which you can review further at our Transparency & Legal Assurance page.
If you are the copyright holder of a track hosted here and believe it has been used in violation of your rights, you can submit a takedown request via email or through our online form:
Email: 📧 egilbert@whff.tv
Online Form: https://stream.whff.tv/dmca.html
Please include the following in your request:
We will respond within 7 business days to comply with the DMCA Safe Harbor provisions.
Yes — Creative Commons licenses allow royalty-free use if you comply fully with the license terms. Most Creative Commons licenses waive the right to demand royalties for non-exclusive use, enabling platforms like ours to stream music legally.
Relevant Law:
- 17 U.S. Code § 106 – Exclusive rights in copyrighted works
- Creative Commons License Deed: creativecommons.org/licenses
Creative Commons licenses are designed to be irrevocable as long as you comply with the original license terms that were in effect when you accessed the work. This means that you retain the rights granted under that license, even if the artist later updates or changes the licensing terms for new users or future distributions.
Relevant Law:
- Creative Commons FAQ on license irrevocability: Creative Commons License FAQ
Yes — while we do not log every individual stream, we retain original audio files exactly as they were downloaded, including tracks obtained from public torrent archives or ZIP packages released under Creative Commons or public domain licenses.
These archives are typically distributed by artists or trusted platforms and often contain embedded license documents (e.g., LICENSE.txt or README.md). We do not alter, repackage, or remove metadata. Our storage of these files supports a good-faith reliance on the license terms in effect at the time of download.
If you are a rights holder and believe a license was misrepresented or a file is no longer authorized, we encourage you to submit a takedown request. We will investigate promptly and remove any content shown to be improperly licensed.
Yes — Some artists may be members of PROs while also licensing their music under Creative Commons. This can create overlapping rights, especially concerning public performance licenses. Streaming such content may require additional permissions or licenses beyond the Creative Commons terms.
We avoid tracks with unclear licensing or dual licensing that could create legal conflicts, and we seek clarification directly from artists when necessary.
Relevant Law:
- 17 U.S. Code § 114 – Scope of exclusive rights in sound recordings
- Policies and guidelines from PROs like ASCAP and BMI
It depends on the specific license. Only Creative Commons licenses that permit commercial use—such as CC BY, CC BY-SA, or CC0—allow streaming on monetized sites. Licenses with Non-Commercial (NC) clauses prohibit commercial use, so using such music on an ad-supported or revenue-generating platform would violate the license terms.
Relevant Law:
- Creative Commons License Definitions: CC BY-NC 4.0
Remixing or creating derivative works is only permitted if the license explicitly allows it. Licenses like CC BY and CC BY-SA allow derivatives, while CC BY-ND (No Derivatives) does not permit modifications. Using music in a modified form without such permission is a violation of the license.
Relevant Law:
- 17 U.S. Code § 106(2) – Rights to create derivative works
- CC
BY-ND 4.0 License
Yes — While not mandated in every jurisdiction, it is best practice to keep thorough records including:
Maintaining these records helps protect you if licensing terms change or if any disputes arise.
Relevant Law:
- Good-faith legal doctrine
- Standard digital licensing and archiving practices
If you strictly follow the terms of the Creative Commons license, an artist generally cannot successfully sue for infringement. However, if you fail to comply—for example, by not providing required attribution, or by using Non-Commercial licensed music commercially—then the artist may have valid grounds for legal action.
Relevant Law:
- 17 U.S. Code § 501 – Copyright infringement
- Creative Commons Legal Code: CC BY 4.0 Legal Code
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) includes Safe Harbor provisions that protect online platforms like ours from liability for user-uploaded content, provided we act quickly to remove infringing material when properly notified.
As required, we have appointed a DMCA Designated Agent to receive copyright infringement notices and process valid takedown requests promptly.
Our Terms of Service and DMCA policy provide detailed explanations of this process, including your rights and our responsibilities.
If you believe your copyrighted work is being used without permission on our platform, please submit a valid takedown notice through our official form at https://stream.whff.tv/dmca.html. We review all notices carefully and act responsibly in accordance with the law.
The DMCA requires that platforms implement a policy to address users who repeatedly violate copyright. While we primarily act as a content aggregator, we take infringement claims seriously and may restrict access or remove content associated with repeat violations to comply with legal obligations.
Our platform operates under United States law, including the U.S. Copyright Act. We also respect international agreements such as the Berne Convention, which protects creators’ rights globally.
Please note that internet content transcends borders, and users accessing our service are responsible for complying with the laws of their own jurisdictions.
Yes. As a content aggregator, we do not host or control all content directly and rely on publicly licensed sources. We make reasonable efforts to comply with copyright law but cannot guarantee the accuracy of every license or piece of content. We encourage users and rights holders to notify us of any concerns.
Our Terms of Service include disclaimers limiting our liability to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Users are responsible for verifying the license status of any content they use or redistribute, especially for commercial purposes. While we strive to include only properly licensed music, licensing terms can change and users should exercise due diligence.
We source music from reputable Creative Commons databases and public domain collections. While we regularly review licensing information, we do not maintain exhaustive archives of every license document. If you notice an error or change in licensing status, please contact us.
Besides the Berne Convention, our platform respects other international frameworks such as the TRIPS Agreement and guidelines from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). These support cross-border copyright protections and fair use considerations.
This website operates under the laws of United States. Any legal claims or disputes shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of Dallas,Texas, and shall be resolved in courts located in that jurisdiction.
📬 For licensing issues, contact us at: egilbert@whff.tv
Thank you for supporting open, ethical music use online.