Your counter-notice
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DMCA counter-notice generator
If your video, post or page was removed by a copyright claim you believe is a mistake, a counter-notice asks for it to be put back. Fill in the form and copy the result.
Everything stays in your browser. Nothing you type is saved or sent.- Fill in what was removed and whyAn example is already loaded below
- Read your counter-notice
- Copy it and send it back
How a DMCA counter-notice works
Short answer
A DMCA counter-notice asks a service to restore material it removed after a copyright notice, because you believe the removal was a mistake. US law asks for four things: your signature, what was removed and where it was, a statement under penalty of perjury that it was removed by mistake or misidentification, and your name, address and phone number with consent to a federal court's jurisdiction and to accept legal papers from the person who complained. The generator above includes all of them.
The four parts
US copyright law (17 U.S.C. § 512(g)(3)) says a counter-notice must include:
- Your signature. Your typed name between slashes, like /Jamie Rivera/, counts.
- What was removed and where it was: a description, and the address where it appeared before it was taken down.
- A statement under penalty of perjury that you believe in good faith the material was removed by mistake or because it was misidentified.
- Your name, address and phone number, a statement that you consent to the jurisdiction of the federal court for your district (or, outside the US, any district where the service can be found), and that you'll accept legal papers from the person who sent the takedown.
The generator picks the right jurisdiction wording from your address, and adds a short explanation of why the removal was wrong.
When to send one
A counter-notice is for when the removal was a mistake: the work is yours, you have a license or permission, your use is fair use, or the complaint named the wrong thing. It isn't for content you copied without permission. Because you're making a statement under penalty of perjury and agreeing that you can be sued, it's worth a minute to be sure.
Our guide on what to do if you got a DMCA notice walks through the options, including when it's better to leave the material down.
Where to send it
Send it to the service that removed your material, not to the person who complained. YouTube, Instagram and Google have their own forms, which the generator links to. Elsewhere, reply to the removal email or write to the site's copyright contact. Keep a copy, and note the date you sent it: the 10 to 14 business day wait starts when the service receives it.
If you're on the other side and need to report a copy of your own work, use the DMCA takedown notice generator.
This page explains how things usually work, in plain words. It’s general information, not legal advice, and rules differ by country. For a decision that matters, talk to a lawyer. Terms
FAQ
Questions, answered
What happens after I send a counter-notice?
The service forwards it to the person who complained. If they don't tell the service within 10 to 14 business days that they've filed a lawsuit, the service can restore your material. If they do sue, it stays down while the court decides.
Can I send a counter-notice for fair use?
Yes. Courts have said copyright owners must consider fair use before sending a takedown, and platforms like YouTube accept counter-notices that rely on it. Fair use depends on the details, such as commentary, criticism or parody, so be honest about whether it applies.
Is it risky to send one?
It can be. You agree that the person who complained can sue you, and your contact details go to them. If the material really does infringe, a counter-notice can make things worse. If you're unsure, or the work is valuable, ask a lawyer first.
What if the takedown was clearly false or abusive?
Send a counter-notice to get your material back, and tell the platform the claim was abusive. Under US law, someone who knowingly makes a false claim in a takedown notice can be liable for the damages it caused.
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