Music DMCA Takedown Notice

What a good one includes

• Clear contact information of the copyright owner or authorized agent, including legal name, email address, and physical address.
• A precise description of the copyrighted music, including track titles, artist names, and ISRC codes if available, to establish exactly what has been infringed.
• The exact URLs where the unauthorized copies are currently hosted or being streamed, rather than just a general website home page.
• A mandatory statement of good faith belief that the use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
• A statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in the notification is accurate and that you are authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner.
• A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Providing a general link to an entire website or profile instead of the specific URL of the infringing audio file or video post.
• Failing to include the exact statutory language regarding the penalty of perjury, which can cause platforms to reject the notice outright.
• Sending notices for transformative uses, reviews, or fair use covers, which can lead to counter-notices or potential legal liability for material misrepresentation.
• Sending the notice without clearly identifying your authority or relationship to the copyrighted master recording or composition.

Frequently asked questions