DMCA Takedown Guide for Webmasters
Digital Millennium Copyright Act often referred as DMCA is a United States copyright law that is employs the treaties of the World Intellectual property organization. In a nutshell, it helps control and protects the access to copyrighted works.
What is a DMCA Takedown Notice?
DMCA Takedown notice is a notice sent to webmasters by copyright content or intellectual property owners to persuade website owners to take down supposedly infringing content that on the target website.
How to send a DMCA Takedown Notice?
I strongly recommend sending a formal email to the targeted webmaster owning your copied or duplicated content and requesting him/her to remove the content ASAP. If you have no success or response, then you could proceed with filing a DMCA notice.
The Steps for sending a DMCA Takedown Notice are:
- Identify and verify if your content has been copied or duplicated.
- Identify the website’s Internet Service Provider (Web Hosting Company)
- Send an email to Web hosting company with all the required information.
The procedure of contacting the webhosting ISP to report infringement is itself DMCA Takedown notice. You can find out the hosting company from the WhoIS lookup website.
You could modify and use the DMCA Takedown Notice Sample or Example
As soon as the webhosting companies receive your DMCA takedown notice, they would comply with your request and take the necessary actions to remove the copied content. They might also request you for a signed request in proper format and details on proofs of ownerships of the content as well if required.
DMCA Takedown request to Google
In case the copied or duplicate content appears above your original content in Google Search results, you might also want to request Google to remove the infringing content. You place your request here.
Google might request you to send a signed copy of the takedown notice letter as well.
The Ugly Truth often criticized
Almost every great initiative has a negative side! Studies show that more than 57% of the Takedown notices are targeting competitor websites and its content to be taken down. Another interesting fact is that more than one-third of these notices are not valid copyright claims.
Let me know your thoughts and questions, Hope you enjoyed the DMCA Takedown Guide for Webmasters
Thats some very useful information. Thanks for sharing it here. Wanted to know more about the DMCA takedown..
regards
Stacey
Dear Buddy: Nice article. Am sure this will be one good post that all should bookmark.
I never knew anything about DMCA and takedowns, this was an eyeopener.
Cheers
Joe
Thanks a lot for sharing the sample DMCA notice letter and template, that was helpful.
Suresh
Dear Josh,
I have personally received many DMCA notices, the only problem is that there is no mechanism to defend the chances to report that there is no infringement.
how do we tackle this situation when you receive a takedown and you really dont find the notice true?
regards
Chris
Hey Chris,
This is a serious problem. As per the DMCA, if you dont take down the content it is a violation. May be you could takedown or modify then do a reply stating there is a misunderstanding.
cheers
Josh
What happens if it is an australian based website having its content stolen by USA based website?
I'm thinking because the website stealing the content is based in USA that the DMCA take down notice may still apply.
Hi Marita,
Good questions! Yes this could be a situation, but still you could contact the web hosting company hosting the website and ask to take down the content as this is a copyright violation.
In addition, you could contact Google to report this violation to remove them from the Search engine listing, that will do the required damage.
cheers
Josh
Thank you Josh 🙂 We have contacted the web hosting company and will contact Google as you have suggested.