Knowledge Base » How can I remove defamation online?

Bitter ex-boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife, employee etc can often ruin your reputation online through defamation. The internet provides a wide open, un-policed forum to post lies and misleading information which can permanently damage your reputation. Whether this information is about a corporation or person is irrelevant. Just one blog post or gossip site posting can have seriously harmful effects. DMCA.com can help.

We can provide support for defamation. Often defamation or damaging information is accompanied by photos or files which have been stolen and published without permission. DMCA.com can get that stolen content removed through the DMCA Takedown.

Go to complete the form here: Takedown Signup

Simply submit the name and location of where you found the stolen content and we can go to work on your behalf. Most of our reputation support clients are people or organizations that have found their content listed on another website without their permission.

 

How can a takedown help with defamation?

Most websites, ISP's, OSP's, hosting companies have adopted the DMCA Takedown process to handle requests for the removal of illegally hosted content on websites within their control. If you think you can use the DMCA takedown process to get your content removed. Click here to file a DMCA Takedown

As part of the U.S. copyright law, the DMCA addresses the rights and obligations of owners of copyrighted material who believe their rights under U.S. copyright law have been infringed, particularly but not limited to, on the Internet. DMCA also addresses the rights and obligations of OSP / ISP (Internet Service Providers) on whose servers or networks the infringing material may be found. This law clearly provides a framework, called the DMCA Takedown (Section 512 (c)(3)), for a process between two parties for the request and removal of copied content found online. For more information you can visit: www.copyright.gov/legislation/dmca.pdf.

If you want to learn more about DMCA Takedowns please see our other FAQ on this specific issue here What is a DMCA Takedown.

 

Some examples of stolen content that we work with everyday are:

  1. Pictures - of you or taken by you
  2. Videos - of you or taken by you
  3. Graphics
  4. Text
  5. Applications
  6. Programs
  7. Profiles or Bio's - personal or corporate
  8. etc

If one of these examples is like your situation we can help.

 

Cease and Desist Notices

A Cease and Desist can be used in cases of defamation, slander or other legal conditions. The DMCA Takedown is delivered because the infringing website is publishing content which is in violation of copyright protection act or being used without permission, according to the sworn statement of the content owner. A DMCA Takedown Notice and a Cease and Desist Notice are two entirely different processes. DMCA.com can help you with both types of notice takedowns through the Professionally Managed Takedown service.

 

What are takedown options?

Sending a takedown notice is a legal process that is upheld by the courts of law. Making and sending of false takedown notification is illegal and no small legal matter. The penalties of sending a false notice is perjury within the United States. Other jurisdictions treat the sending of false notices very seriously and are comfortable pursuing false claimants with significant vigor.

  1. DMCA.com's Professionally Managed takedown service. We do all the work for you, all you need to do is fill out our simple Takedown form. Takes less than 3 minutes. If you wish to perform a Cease and Desist this is the service to choose. Click here to get started Takedown Form
  2. DMCA.com's Do it Yourself takedown service. We provide all the tools the professionals use and you spend the time researching and processing the Takedown Application. DIY Services

 

DMCA Fast Tip

With the Professionally Managed takedown service we can help you decide whether your notice is best filed through the standard DMCA Takedown process, or if legal services are needed to file a Cease and Desist Notice.

 

Who is authorized to file a takedown?

Two parties are authorized to send takedown notices:

  1. The owner of the content described in the takedown notice.
  2. An authorized agent of the owner of the content described in the takedown notice.

If the owner of the content chooses and agent to act on their behalf they must first swear by (legally state):

  1. They own the content contained in the takedown notice.
  2. They have authorized the agent to act on their behalf.

Note: DMCA.com requires this sworn statement from every one of its paying Professionally Managed Clients. See example here: Takedown Notice Sign up form - in order to complete this form users must legally swear they are authorized to submit a takedown notice. DMCA.com has also added the same safety feature within its DIY program. There are specific statements within the DIY takedown notice regarding abuse of the service.

 

Examples of content owners:

  1. copyright owners
  2. content publishers or distributors (with permission of the content or copyright owners)
  3. NFT owners
  4. code writers and publishers
  5. social media users and participants
  6. subject contained within the content and published without permission (special considerations may be required)

 

DMCA Takedown Testimonial

I was very unsure about starting the DMCA process, and I even had some doubts that this was a genuine site as it sounded a bit too good to be true. Once you've had something 'misused' on the internet, the whole computer environment starts to feel less friendly and full of traps for the unwary or unlucky. However, very soon after submitting an outline of my problem, I received a very helpful reply which in fact included more 'technical' detail than I had initially provided, and assured me that the takedown process had been initiated. I was kept fully informed throughout the process and all my questions were answered very speedily and helpfully, including advice about how to see for myself that the item had indeed been removed. I was more than impressed with the level of service provided and delighted that a wholly successful and comprehensive takedown was effected. I could not have hoped for more help or a better outcome and I thoroughly and unhesitatingly recommend the DMCA service. I would certainly use it again myself if needed in the future. Thank you again for everything.

 

What does a takedown do?

Most websites, ISP's, OSP's, hosting companies have adopted the DMCA Takedown process to handle requests for the removal of illegally hosted content on websites within their control. If you think you can use the DMCA takedown process to get your content removed. Click here to file a DMCA Takedown

As part of the U.S. copyright law, the DMCA addresses the rights and obligations of owners of copyrighted material who believe their rights under U.S. copyright law have been infringed, particularly but not limited to, on the Internet. DMCA also addresses the rights and obligations of OSP / ISP (Internet Service Providers) on whose servers or networks the infringing material may be found. This law clearly provides a framework, called the DMCA Takedown (Section 512 (c)(3)), for a process between two parties for the request and removal of copied content found online. For more information you can visit: www.copyright.gov/legislation/dmca.pdf.

If you want to learn more about DMCA Takedowns please see our other FAQ on this specific issue here What is a DMCA Takedown.

 

Related DMCA Takedown FAQ's

  1. What is the DMCA Protected Badge
  2. What is DMCA Protection
  3. What is DMCA Takedowns
  4. What is DMCA.com
  5. What is DMCA Protected Certificate
  6. What is DMCA Website Certificate
  7. What is DMCA Website Status Page and Protection Certificate

 

Start Your Takedown here: Takedown Form
Modified: 06/02/2023
Category: Frequently Asked Question
By: Mr. DMCA Helper
FAQ ID:a04cab48-bcc8-4d14-b4f4-56bdfd9ef65f