How to Report Copyright Infringement on Google

Copyright infringement is one of the most ongoing issues these days, which almost everyone has faced at some point in their lives. Creating something with utmost precision and hard work only for it to be stolen afterwards is one of the most annoying things that anyone can go through. Let’s say you have built up a website and designed it yourself, picked the products by hand, closely monitored the photography and style structure, and somebody makes a fake version of it. How would you react? Now, the real test comes: what happens after this. Now, someone has created a fake website just like yours, put your logo and brand name on it that is either identical to it or very similar, and you will report that website on Google through the Google report form. Because the more the fake website stays visible on Google, the more clicks and impressions it will get, it can be a possibility that it will undermine your original website. 

It is important to protect your intellectual property, which can be in the form of photos, videos, music or anything that you post online. You can report this infringement by using a Google Form, or you can hire a service like DMCA Desk that can help you deal with this issue. Filing an infringing notice can be a tedious process because one single mistake in the notice can lead to cancellation of the takedown form. 

How to File a DMCA Copyright Notice with Google

You need to follow the following steps to file an infringing notice

Identify the Infringing URL

Identify the content that has been stolen, take the URL of the stolen content and write it in the notice.

Find the Correct Form

Google has different forms for different services, such as Google Search and YouTube etc, You should use the specific form for the service where you find the infringement.

Fill Out the Information Properly

Add all the accurate information, including url of the original content, url of the infringing content, and your contact information. The more specific you are, the more chances there are that Google will address your issue.

Give Evidence of The Infringement

Give your original URL and the infringing URL, and provide timestamps for when the content was created. You can also add a comparison of the infringing and original URLs and any other documents that support your case.

Submit Your DMCA Notice and What Happens Next

After filling out all the essential information, submit the form and wait for Google’s response. It can respond as early as 24 hours and can also take up to 7 to 14 days to respond, based on the number of applications being dealt with at that moment.

Take Quick Action

Whenever you find content infringement, act promptly because it can not only tarnish your reputation but also cause you to lose your revenue stream. It can also affect the integrity of your brand by providing low-quality content. 

If you want to know in detail how to file a takedown notice, you can visit our website.

Are Websites Removed from Google Search Results Due To Copyright Infringement

Yes, Google does not support fake sites and takes strict action against them by delisting the URLs. Through the DMCA takedown process, copyright holders can submit a notice through Google’s request page to request the removal of specific infringing URLs from the search results.

Now, some people also abuse DMCA notices to take down competition. If your content is being removed due to false claims, you have the option to file a counternotice and restore the content by providing information that the claim was false.

Google Transparency Report

Google’s Transparency Report highlights how often copyright owners request the removal of infringing URLs. Here’s what the latest data shows: according to Google’s transparency report, 6,004,264 are the specified domains from which URLs are requested to be listed as of now, 886,700 number of copyright owners have claimed an exclusive right to content which is being used in infringing sites, 1,244,328 reporting organisations that have acted on behalf of copyright owners to request delisting of URLs.

How Does Google Deal with Copyright Infringement

Google follows the DMCA policy enacted by US federal law. The DMCA policy protects material, including photos, videos, and articles. Google carefully reviews removal requests to make sure that infringing content is taken down. Google cannot remove content from an actual web page, which means the content can still be on the website, but Google will not show it in search results.

Google is very strict in its guidelines and promptly takes down the website that it analyses as infringing. 

How Does a DMCA Takedown Notice Work on Google

Filing a DMCA takedown notice on Google has the same process as filing on any other platform. Except on Google, you have to fill a Google’s copyright infringement form. The information that is required is the same. Before filing a takedown notice, you should gather all information and then fill out the form accurately. Because in case of any mistake, your form will be rejected. 

Before going to an attorney or law firm, you can consult agencies which provide DMCA services like takedown notices. They will fill out the takedown forms on your behalf, and there will be no room for error as they are qualified to deal with such matters. Let DMCA Desk be your saviour and protect your work.

Final Takeaway

We all stand on one thing, which is that it is inappropriate to steal someone else’s work and make money out of it. So, people who do this should be dealt with seriously. Whether it’s your photos, videos, blogs, music or any form of creative artwork in the digital world, it should be protected with utmost care. This is where DMCA Desk comes in. We help you handle these tedious tasks so you can focus on your brand growth, and let us handle all the paperwork for you. Contact us if you want to monitor whether someone has infringed on your work or not.