Frequently asked questions
Accurate answers, including the ones about what cannot be done.
Getting started
What is a DMCA takedown request?
A DMCA takedown notice is a formal notification sent to an online service provider under 17 U.S.C. § 512 of the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act, identifying copyrighted work and the material that infringes it. If the notice contains the required elements and the provider wants to keep its safe-harbor protection, it typically removes or disables access to the material and notifies the person who posted it. Many non-US platforms accept notices in the same format.
What information is needed to report copyright infringement?
Identification of your original work and where it was first published, the exact URLs of the infringing material, proof that you own or control the rights, your contact details, a good-faith statement and a statement made under penalty of perjury that you are authorized to act. We provide a checklist and build the evidence pack with you.
Can you help with trademark infringement?
Yes. Trademark complaints follow different rules from copyright: they rely on registered or established rights in a name, logo or mark and on a likelihood of confusion. We prepare and route trademark reports to marketplaces, ad platforms, social networks and registrars, and we are clear when a matter needs a lawyer, for example opposition proceedings or litigation.
How does the brand protection tracker work?
Every case gets a reference number, a status and a timeline. Each infringing URL is tracked individually with its platform, evidence status, report status, last-checked date and verified result. Evidence files are stored privately with role-based access. You can comment on cases, receive notifications and see invoices in the same portal.
Timelines and outcomes
How long can a case take?
It depends on the platform, the evidence and the type of complaint. Many platform reports are acted on within days; hosts, registrars and search engines often take longer; review and reputation matters can take weeks and may need more than one round. We show realistic ranges in your assessment and record actual dates on the case timeline rather than promising a timeline.
Do you guarantee removal?
No. The platform or provider that receives the report makes its own decision. We guarantee the quality of the work: a correct legal or policy basis, complete evidence, the right channel, follow-up and escalation where available, and honest advice when a request has a weak basis.
What happens after a platform receives a report?
The platform checks the report against its requirements and policies. It may remove the content, ask for more information, forward the notice to the other party, or decline. For DMCA notices, the other party can file a counter-notice, after which the platform may restore the content unless legal action is taken. Each of these events is recorded on your case timeline.
What if the other party files a counter-notice?
We assess whether the counter-notice meets the statutory requirements, explain what it means for the case, and prepare the record for your lawyer if you choose to pursue the matter further. Deciding whether to take legal action is your decision, with legal advice.
Platforms and scope
Which platforms can be reported?
Google Search and Google Business Profile, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Amazon, Shopify, eBay, Etsy, Walmart, AliExpress, Trustpilot, Yelp, Telegram, X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Reddit, Discord and independent websites through their hosting providers, CDNs, registrars and payment processors.
Can businesses submit multiple cases?
Yes. The portal is designed for ongoing use: multiple brands, multiple cases, many URLs per case, and monthly case-management arrangements for businesses with recurring infringement.
Can you remove any negative review?
No. Review platforms remove reviews that violate their policies: fake or paid reviews, conflicts of interest, off-topic content, harassment, spam and similar. A genuine customer's honest opinion is not removable through policy reporting. We assess each review against the platform's policy and tell you which ones have a realistic basis for reporting.
Do you work with content outside the United States?
Yes. Many global platforms accept DMCA-format notices regardless of location. For hosts elsewhere we use the EU Digital Services Act notice-and-action process, local copyright procedures, registrar and payment-processor abuse channels, and search-engine delisting.
Privacy and working with us
How is client information handled?
Case details and evidence are stored privately and are visible only to your organization's users and the staff assigned to your case. Internal notes are never shown to clients and other clients can never see your records. Where the process allows, we file as your authorized agent so your personal contact details are not the ones forwarded to the other party.
How can I request a quote?
Use the protection assessment form or the quote request form. Describe the problem, include the links you already have and tell us roughly how many URLs or cases are involved. You will receive an assessment and a quote by email before any work is billed.
Are you a law firm?
No. DigitalDMCA provides administrative and technical support for infringement reporting and digital rights protection. We do not give legal advice. Where a matter needs legal advice or litigation we say so and recommend you consult a qualified lawyer.
Who owns the evidence and reports?
You do. Everything in your case file can be exported, and you may share it with your own lawyer or another provider at any time.
Ask it in an assessment request and the answer comes with a plan.