DMCA takedown notice template and generator

DMCA takedown notice template

If you'd rather write it yourself, copy this template and replace everything in square brackets. It has the same six parts as the generator.

Subject: DMCA takedown notice: copyright infringement

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to report material on your service that infringes my copyright. Please remove it or disable access to it.

1. The copyrighted work
[Describe your work, e.g. "My photograph of Lake Placid at sunset, taken June 14, 2026"]
The original can be seen at: [web address of your original, if it's published]

2. The infringing material
This page contains a copy of the work, used without permission:
[exact address of each copy]

3. My contact details
[Your full name]
[Your mailing address]
[Your phone number]
[Your email]

4. Statements
I have a good faith belief that use of the copyrighted material described above is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
I swear, under penalty of perjury, that the information in this notice is accurate and that I am the copyright owner, or am authorized to act on behalf of the owner, of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

Signed: /[Your full name]/
Date: [Today's date]

To see a finished example, click Fill in an example at the top of the generator. It fills in a photographer whose sunset photo was reposted on Instagram, and shows the complete notice.

The six parts

US copyright law (17 U.S.C. § 512(c)(3)) says a takedown notice must include:

1. Your signature. Typing your name between slashes, like /Jamie Rivera/, counts as an electronic signature.
2. The work that was copied, described clearly enough to identify it.
3. The copy, with enough detail to find it: the exact link to each post or page.
4. Your contact details: name, address, phone number and email.
5. A good-faith statement that the use isn't authorized by you, your agent or the law.
6. An accuracy statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the notice is correct and that you own the copyright or are authorized to act for the owner.

The generator puts all six in, in that order, so nothing gets left out.

Where to send it

Big platforms want their own form rather than an email. Pick where the copy is and the generator links to the right form; you paste each part of your notice into the matching field. For an ordinary website, look for a DMCA or copyright page on the site, or find out who hosts it and email the host's abuse address. The US Copyright Office keeps a public list of the DMCA agents that sites have registered.

If the copy shows up in Google's results, send a notice to Google as well. That removes it from search, but not from the website, so you need both.

Before you send

Make sure it's your work, or that you're authorized to act for the owner. Check that the use isn't something the law allows, like a short quote in a review. And save a copy of the page as it is now, with a screenshot that shows the address and date. Our guide on how to send a DMCA takedown notice walks through what happens after you send it, and the compare two photos tool helps you show that a copied photo is yours.

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