DMCA Takedown Notice

A DMCA Takedown Notice is a formal notification sent under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act requesting removal of content that allegedly infringes copyright. The notice must be sent to the service provider's designated copyright agent and include: identification of the copyrighted work, identification of the infringing material and its location, contact information, a statement of good faith belief that use is unauthorized, a statement that the information is accurate, and signature under penalty of perjury. If properly formatted, the service provider must promptly remove or disable access to the content to maintain their safe harbor from liability. The alleged infringer can submit a counter-notice if they believe the takedown was improper. DMCA notices are powerful tools for copyright owners but can be abused, and sending false notices can result in liability for damages and attorney fees.