What You Can Do About
Internet Copyright Infringement
Are your photos, text, videos, music, games, software or other original materials posted somewhere online without your permission?
If so, you’re not alone. Copycats on the web are running rampant.
But congratulations are in order because you've just stumbled across the best website to help you DO SOMETHING about it!
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
Fortunately, there is a law called the Digital Millennium Copyright Act that provides a means for resolving internet copyright infringement issues.
The problem is that the DMCA is complicated and a very large percentage of infringement complaints are inaccurate, incomplete or invalid. (I won't quote an exact percentage because various sources report this number to be anywhere from 30% to well over 50%).
How StopCopycats.com can help
We're so glad you came to this website, because before you proceed in taking action against a copycat, it's extremely important that you educate yourself about copyright law and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. A false or invalid claim can get you in serious trouble!
But don't worry, we'll help you understand and use this law to get your copyrighted materials removed from unauthorized websites.
We have lots of free, useful information on this website to help you understand the important aspects of our laws. You are urged to read our articles before moving ahead with any kind of action.
And when you're ready to take action, StopCopycats.com provides a GUARANTEED DMCA takedown service for your convenience. Our service is perfect for the person who doesn't want to go it alone or spend a ton of money on an attorney.
We hope you'll get to know us better by visiting our About Us page (yes, we are REAL people!).
Do you have a valid claim?
Before you continue, the most important thing to figure out is if your internet copyright claim is valid.
An invalid claim can open a big, messy can of worms. You can even get sued for using the DMCA if you file an invalid claim, whether intentionally or not (and this can be a real nightmare because you will be subject to the plaintiff's jurisdiction!). Read our article "Is Your Copyright Claim Valid?" before proceeding with any complaints!
Copyright law
Knowing what's actually "copyrightable" and what's not is critical before making a complaint. Believe it or not, even if you think you know your works are protected by copyright, they may not be! So visit our pages on demystifying copyright law as well as what's not protected by copyright. You might be surprised to find out what you think is yours really isn't.
Registering your copyright
Should you register your works with the U.S. Copyright Office or not? Read our article on 8 Common Misconceptions About Copyright Registration to help clear up the confusion.
Protecting your content
Are you doing everything you can to protect your copyrighted materials on the internet? Or is your content just flapping out in the breeze and ripe for the pickin'?
Even if you think you've got it covered, read our article, "5 Things You Can Do For Better Copyright Protection." Cover your bases!
Catching copycats
Do you regularly check the internet to see if anyone has copied your content? Read our article, "How to Catch a Copycat" for some great methods on scanning for your content.
And more ...
We'll be updating StopCopycats.com regularly with more information about the DMCA, copyright law and internet copyright infringement issues, so please bookmark our site and visit often!
And please feel free to pass on our link to tell others about StopCopycats.com ... Chances are, you're not the only one who's had their original content stolen by a copycat!
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Note: We are NOT lawyers. Nothing on this website is to be construed as legal advice. If you need legal advice, you must contact an attorney.