DMCA takedown notice generator — draft a § 512(c) notice

How to use the DMCA notice generator

1. Fill in Your full legal name, Postal address, Email and, if you wish, Phone (optional).
2. In Send to (service provider’s designated agent), name the agent or company, and set the Date.
3. Describe Your original work clearly, and add Where the original is published (optional).
4. Paste each copy in Infringing URLs (one per line). Tick I am acting on behalf of the owner if you are an agent, not the owner.
5. Read the preview, sign the notice and send it through the channel the provider lists.

What it does and when to use it

Use it when your photo, article, video, code or design has been copied onto a site or platform that operates under U.S. law. The notice has a To/Date/Subject header, a short opening request, and five numbered sections: the copyrighted work, the infringing material, your contact information, the two required statements, and your signature.

It does not cover finding the agent, counter notices, other countries’ procedures or lawsuits, and it does not send anything. To make copying of your images harder in the first place, add a visible mark with the image watermark tool, and put a clear notice on your work with the copyright notice generator.

How it works

The tool fills a fixed letter with your answers in your browser; nothing is uploaded. Each URL line becomes a bullet. Empty fields become placeholders such as [Your full legal name], so you can see what is still missing. Ticking the agent box changes two sentences so they read “copyright I own or am authorised to act for” and “I am the owner, or authorised to act on behalf of the owner,”. The signature always ends with [Physical or electronic signature]. Section 512(c)(3)(A)(i) asks for a signature, so replace that line before sending.

Worked examples

Photographer, own work. With the sample answers, the subject line reads “Notice of copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. § 512(c)”. Section 2 lists - https://copycat.example/gallery/harbour.jpg.

Agency acting for a client. Tick I am acting on behalf of the owner. Section 4 now reads: “I am the owner, or authorised to act on behalf of the owner, of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.”

Limits and tips

• Be specific. The law asks for information reasonably sufficient for the provider to find the material, so list exact page or file URLs, not just the domain.
• Several works. If more than one work was copied, describe each one in Your original work.
• Keep records. Save the notice, the date you sent it and screenshots of the infringing pages.
• Laws differ by country. The DMCA is U.S. law. The output is a starting template, not legal advice; speak to a qualified lawyer if the matter is serious or disputed.