Copyright Policy

Please consider whether the use of your work is legally protected. Uses of copyrighted material for purposes such as quotation, criticism, review, caricature, parody, or pastiche represent mandatory user rights under Article 17(7) of the EU DSM Directive and Section 52 p § of the Swedish Copyright Act, and similarly under the "Fair Use" doctrine in the US. If the content falls under these exceptions, it does not constitute infringement. Demotect cannot provide legal counsel; if you are unsure, seek legal advice before filing.

Often, reaching out to the user directly can resolve issues swiftly. A polite request via direct message regarding proper attribution or voluntary removal can frequently settle conflicts without initiating formal legal interventions.

Under 17 U.S.C. § 512(f) of the US DMCA, and Article 16(2)(d) of the EU DSA, you must have a "bona fide" (good faith) belief that the material is infringing. Under Article 23 of the EU DSA and national tort laws, you may be held civilly and administratively liable for damages (including legal costs and attorney's fees) if you knowingly and materially misrepresent that material is infringing. Submitting manifestly unfounded notices will result in the suspension of your reporting privileges.

We process copyright complaints expeditiously. If your complaint satisfies the statutory requirements (including the precise electronic location of the content and a substantiated legal explanation), we will act to remove or disable access to the allegedly infringing material.

In accordance with Article 17 of the EU DSA and our commitment to transparency, if we restrict access to user content in response to a copyright complaint, we must provide the affected user with a clear and specific Statement of Reasons.

This statement will include a full copy of your notice, including your name, contact information, and the legal details of your claim, allowing the user to understand the allegation and exercise their fundamental right to appeal. If you do not wish to share your personal contact information, you should consider appointing an authorized agent to submit the notice on your behalf.

Pursuant to Article 17 of the EU DSA, you have been issued a Statement of Reasons via the email address associated with your account. This email includes a copy of the complaint, the reporter's details, and instructions on your possibilities for redress.

Tip: Voluntarily deleting the reported material after you have received a strike will not resolve the copyright complaint or remove the strike from your account. You must legally appeal it.

A DMCA Counter-Notice is a request for us to reinstate the removed material. It is the start of a formal US legal process. By submitting a DMCA Counter-Notice, you are consenting to be sued by the reporter in a US federal court if they contest your claim, and you are consenting to the disclosure of your personal information.

To ensure rapid processing, you must submit your appeal using our dedicated web form. Once received, the complainant has 10 to 14 business days to seek a US federal court order against you. If no court order is received within this window, the content will be reinstated.

Under Article 20 of the EU DSA and Section 52 q § of the Swedish Copyright Act, you have the right to lodge a complaint against our decision to remove content free of charge for a period of six (6) months following the removal.

You have an explicit statutory right to use copyrighted works for caricature, parody, pastiche, quotation, criticism, or review. If you assert a valid exception, your appeal is routed to our internal human moderation team. Under EU guidelines, unless the content is deemed a "manifestly infringing" copy, it may go online or stay online during the human review process.

If your appeal cannot be resolved through our internal human-moderated dispute review, Article 21 of the EU DSA grants you the right to select an independent, certified out-of-court dispute settlement body to resolve the dispute. This mechanism is impartial and available at no cost (or a nominal fee) to users. Engaging in this process does not deprive you of your right to initiate judicial proceedings before a national court at any stage.