INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
DMCA & Copyright
Copyright attaches the moment you create. The DMCA gives you the tools to take down stolen content. Here is exactly how it works.
Adult content creators hold the same copyright protections as any other creator. The law does not care what kind of content you make. If you made it, you own it.
§ 512
The federal law that gives you the right to take down stolen content
48 hrs
Platform removal window for NCII under the TAKE IT DOWN Act (2025)
$150K
Maximum statutory damages per work with registered copyright
6
Required elements in every valid DMCA takedown notice
The foundation
Copyright basics
Copyright is automatic
You own your content at creation. No registration required. 17 U.S.C. § 102. The moment you hit stop on your recording, that content is legally yours. No paperwork. No filing. No waiting.
17 U.S.C. § 102
What copyright protects
Your specific photos, videos, and recordings. Not ideas, aesthetics, general concepts, or your appearance. The specific expression is protected — the particular creative choices you made in that particular recording.
17 U.S.C. § 106
Why registration matters
Registration before infringement unlocks statutory damages up to $150,000 per work and attorney fees. Without it you can only recover actual damages — much harder to prove and rarely worth litigating. Register at copyright.gov.
17 U.S.C. § 412
Step by step
The takedown process
Find and document
Screenshot the infringing page with the URL visible in the browser bar. Copy the exact URL. Note the date and time. Save your original file with its creation metadata intact — this establishes your ownership timeline.
Find the right recipient
Use the platform's official DMCA report form where one exists. For sites without a clear process, look up their registered DMCA agent at dmca.copyright.gov/osp — this is a federal database of all registered agents.
Write a valid notice
Must include all 6 required elements — missing any single one can invalidate your notice and give the platform grounds to ignore it. See the required elements section below.
Send it
Submit via the platform's official form or email the DMCA agent directly. Keep a copy with the timestamp. Screenshot your submission confirmation. This is your evidence of notice.
Wait and follow up
Platforms must act "expeditiously" — typically 24–72 hours for major platforms. If no response in 14 business days, escalate. Send a follow-up citing 17 U.S.C. § 512 and the date of your original notice.
If they don't act
File with Google to deindex the URL at search.google.com/search-console. Contact the hosting company directly — separate from the content platform. Non-responding platforms lose DMCA safe harbor protection under § 512(c).
17 U.S.C. § 512(c)(3)
The 6 required elements
Your signature
Physical or electronic. For electronic, typing your full legal name at the bottom of the notice is sufficient.
Identification of your original work
A description or link to the copyrighted work being infringed. If multiple works, a representative list.
The exact infringing URL
The specific URL of the infringing content — not the site homepage, not the user's profile page. The exact URL of the stolen content.
Your contact information
Name, address, phone number, and email address. The platform needs to be able to contact you about the notice.
Good faith statement
"I have a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law."
Perjury statement
"I swear, under penalty of perjury, that the information in this notification 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."
Platform by platform
Where to file
| Platform | Where to File | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OnlyFans | Help Center copyright form | Generally responsive within 24 hours |
| Fansly | Support ticket system | 1–2 business day response |
| reddit.com/report/copyright | File with Reddit corporate, not subreddit mods | |
| Twitter / X | help.twitter.com/forms/dmca | Historically responsive |
| IP report form in Help Center | Algorithm-heavy moderation | |
| TikTok | tiktok.com/legal/report/Copyright | Use official form only |
| Pornhub | Content removal / DMCA page | Also invoke TAKE IT DOWN Act for NCII |
| Google Search | search.google.com/search-console/remove-outdated-content | Deindexes URL even if content stays up |
NEW FEDERAL PROTECTION
TAKE IT DOWN Act (2025)
Signed May 19, 2025. Platforms must remove nonconsensual intimate imagery — including AI-generated deepfakes — within 48 hours of a valid notice. Publishing NCII is now a federal crime with penalties up to 2 years in prison. Platform compliance deadline: May 19, 2026.
If your content is being shared without your consent, invoke both the standard DMCA process and the TAKE IT DOWN Act in your notice. Platforms now have a legal obligation to respond within 48 hours — faster than the standard DMCA timeframe.
Pub. L. No. 118-231 · Signed May 19, 2025
What kills your takedown
Common mistakes
Sending to the wrong address
General support email instead of the registered DMCA agent. Only notices sent to the designated agent receive § 512 safe harbor treatment — and trigger the platform's legal obligations.
Missing required elements
Any one of the 6 required elements missing can invalidate the entire notice. Platforms are entitled to ignore notices that don't comply with 17 U.S.C. § 512(c)(3).
Wrong URL
The homepage or the user's profile page instead of the specific infringing content URL. The notice must identify the exact location of the infringing material.
Claiming rights you don't have
If someone else filmed or produced the content, you may not hold the copyright without a written agreement. Coordinate with the producer before filing. A false DMCA notice exposes you to liability under § 512(f).
Ignoring counter-notices
If the infringer files a counter-notice, you have 10–14 business days to file a lawsuit or the platform can restore the content. Missing this window means your takedown gets reversed.
Not documenting before filing
Screenshot everything before you send anything — content disappears after a successful takedown and you may need evidence for follow-up action. Screenshot with URL visible, date-stamp it, save originals.
PAID GUIDE — $12
The Adult Creator DMCA Field Guide
20+ pages covering copyright basics, step-by-step takedowns, platform-by-platform instructions, copyright registration strategy, what to do when it fails, and when to get a lawyer. Written for adult content creators. No law degree required.
GET THIS GUIDE →Legal Disclaimer — Siren System provides general legal information for educational purposes only. Nothing on this site constitutes legal advice. Sending a knowingly false DMCA notice can expose you to liability under 17 U.S.C. § 512(f). Consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation.