The six required elements
- Signature. A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf.
- Identification of the work. The copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed, or a representative list where multiple works are covered by one notice.
- Identification of the infringing material. Described precisely enough for the recipient to locate it — in practice, the exact listing URLs, not a store name.
- Contact information. Address, telephone number, and email address of the complaining party.
- Good-faith statement. A statement that you believe in good faith that the use is not authorized by the owner, its agent, or the law.
- Accuracy statement. A statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information is accurate and that you are authorized to act for the owner.
Mistakes that get notices rejected
- Naming a seller or storefront instead of identifying specific infringing items.
- Claiming rights over an idea, product function, or general style rather than a protected work.
- Omitting the perjury and good-faith statements, or sending an unsigned notice.
- Using an address that is not the platform's designated copyright agent.
- Overstating the claim — knowing misrepresentation can create liability under § 512(f).
What happens after it is sent
The recipient reviews the notice, may remove or disable the material, and typically informs the seller, who can file a counter-notice. Response times vary by platform; see our guide on how long a DMCA takedown takes.
Build a complete notice
DMCA Sentinel assembles each of the required elements from your case details so nothing statutory is left out, then stores the signed document with your evidence.
Start a Takedown