How to File a Reddit DMCA: Ultimate Guide

See your stolen content making the rounds on Reddit? Now you can do something about it.

Consider filing a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) takedown notice if you’re a content creator or copyright holder for your original material.

It’s the best course of action to start out with that doesn’t require a lawyer and could get the desired result of having your content removed.

Here’s how to do one.

What is a DMCA Takedown Notice?

A DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) takedown notice is done “when content is removed from a website or internet platform at the request of the owner of the content.”

If the owner of the content sees their original content posted on another site (like Reddit) without their express permission, they can file a DMCA takedown notice (sample) stating their ownership of the content and essentially informing the offender that they are breaking the law and that you can take further legal action against them.

When to File a DMCA Notice for Reddit Content

When is it appropriate to file a DMCA notice for Reddit content?

Any time that you see your original content shared without permission.

A few examples of content that is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act include:

• Articles
• Photographs
• Videos
• OnlyFans content
• Online courses
• Artwork
• Audio or music files
• Software
• And more

So if you’re on Reddit and see anything of yours, you can file a DMCA take notice with them and they will be required to remove the offending content from the site.

Preparing to File a DMCA Notice for Reddit

The truth is, filing a DMCA notice on Reddit is incredibly simpe and requires next to no preparation at all.

Reddit doesn’t really check to see if you have any proof of copyright. So you won’t have to prove that you have the rights to your intellectual property (which is a point of contention for users if you browse r/ModSupport).

You can even file a DMCA takedown notice on someone else’s behalf if you see offending content that you know originated from another creator without credit (or even with!)

You’ll just need to gather the following:

• Subject of inquiry (what the offending content is)
• Details about the inquiry (supporting information regarding why you think this content goes against the DMCA)
• Supporting evidence of the offense including screenshots of every community it has been posted to and proof of ownership from the original source (the original blog post, a screenshot of the YouTube page the video was posted on, screenshots of the content on the original creator’s OnlyFans page, etc)
• OPTIONAL: Evidence of copyright.

 Step-by-Step Guide to Filing a DMCA Notice on Reddit

Filing a DMCA notice on Reddit is made super easy by their policy.

All that you will need to do is go here, and:

1. Select “Intellectual property requests” from the drop-down menu under “What do you need help with?”

2. Enter your email address.
3. Select “Copyright infringement/DMCA” from the drop-down menu under “What type of Intellectual Property Request do you need assistance with?”

4. Fill out the “Subject of inquiry” with the offending post/subreddit where you found the stolen content.
5. Fill out the “Details of inquiry” to explain the situation (ie, “I posted this original content to my OnlyFans, and it has been posted in this subreddit without my permission”)
6. Attach any supporting documentation, including screenshots of every community it has been posted to and proof of ownership from the original source (the original blog post, a screenshot of the YouTube page the video was posted on, screenshots of the content on the original creator’s OnlyFans page, etc) as well as proof of copyright
7. Click submit at the bottom.

Once you submit your request, you can expect it to go through within a matter of days.

After Filing a DMCA Notice

Once you’re done filing, it really depends.

Since the law is prescriptive, Reddit will likely remove the post from the sub first.

Repeat offenses could result in Reddit suspending an account, a subreddit, or even banning a subreddit or account entirely.

If you attempt to send a DMCA takedown notice through DM or take things off Reddit entirely, then you could receive a DMCA counter-notice.

This happens when the accused party counters your claim with proof that they did not offend the DMCA, at which point, you will need to take additional steps.

Responding to a DMCA Counter-Notice

If you do happen to receive a counter-notice, you will, essentially, need to come with receipts and show that you’re ready to escalate.

According to Google’s guidelines, counter-notice respondents need to present evidence that one of the following two legal actions has been taken:

• An action seeking a court order against the uploader to restrain the allegedly infringing activity (not just a claim for damages).
• A claim of copyright infringement against the uploader (if such uploader is based within the United States) with the US Copyright Office’s Copyright Claims Board (CCB), where applicable.

Best Practices for Protecting Your Content on Reddit

As always, the best way to combat needing to send a DMCA takedown notice is to avoid the need to in the first place.

Here are a few ways to prevent your content from being stolen and distributed without your consent:

• Watermark your content– Put a watermark or small logo on your content to serve as a digital signature that deters would-be content thieves.
• Copyright your content– Copyrighting allows for another layer of legal protection for your content, providing yet another deterrent for folks who would steal your content.
• Report infringements or unauthorized use to Reddit as soon as they occur- To prevent further distribution.

Conclusion

There you have it! Filing a DMCA takedown using Reddit couldn’t be simpler, and you don’t have to provide proof of a copyright (which is a good and bad thing, depending on how you look at it.)

Protect your content using watermarks, logos, and copyrights, and report any infringement directly to Reddit immediately.

• Found your content on Google? Check out our guide on removing stolen content on Google Search >>
• Found your content on Instagram? Check out our guide on removing stolen content on Instagram >>
• Found your content on YouTube? Check out our guide on removing stolen content on YouTube >>
• Found your products on Shopify? Check out our guide on requesting takedowns on Shopify >> 
• What about products? Check out our guide on takedowns for Shopify & WooCommerce >>

And if you need to escalate, we can help. Try our DMCA takedown service and we’ll get infringing content taken down for you from any site.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I file a DMCA Takedown on Reddit?

You can file a DMCA takedown any time you see copyright infringement taking place (ie content being distributed and posted to other subreddits without permission), whether the content is your own or another creators.

What are examples of copyright infringement on Reddit?

Examples of copyright infringement on Reddit include things like sharing pirated courses or videos, sharing original written material without the writer’s permission, sharing songs illegally, and anything that could be considered stolen content.

How long does a Reddit DMCA Takedown take?

A Reddit DMCA takedown usually only takes a matter of days.