Frequently asked copyright questions

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I have permission to use this content. Why was it removed?

If you have cleared the rights to use certain copyright-protected material on your page, you may want to alert the original content owner to avoid a mistaken removal. If your page was removed in error, you have the option of requesting a retraction from the claimant by contacting them directly or of submitting a counter notification.

Before you issue a counter notice, you may want to ask yourself a few questions to make sure it’s a valid dispute:

• Are you the copyright owner of the work?
• Do you have permission to all third-party material used in the work from the appropriate copyright owner(s)?
• Should your use of any copyrighted material be considered a fair use, fair dealing or qualify for an exception under the applicable copyright law?

If one of the conditions above applies to your content, you may want to research the most appropriate dispute process or consult an attorney. If not, you may be in violation of copyright laws.

How do I get permission to use someone else's song, images or footage?

If you plan to include copyright-protected material in your work, you may need to seek permission to do so first. Google cannot grant you these rights and we are unable assist you in finding and contacting the parties who may be able to grant them to you. This is something you’ll have to research and handle on your own or with the assistance of a lawyer.

If I’ve already submitted a copyright complaint to Google, why do I have to provide all my information each time I have another request?

In accordance with copyright law, we require complete copyright notifications for each removal request.

The easiest way to submit another complaint is to use our online webform.

What are the consequences of copyright infringement?

For Google, the consequences of copyright infringement are simple. We comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Under this law, we may, when properly notified, disable access to content that violates applicable copyright law.

If we receive a valid infringement notification identifying content associated with your work, it will be removed and you may receive a strike.

In addition, copyright owners may choose to sue for infringement. In the U.S., copyright infringement may result in statutory damages of up to $150,000 per work infringed and, in some cases, criminal penalties.

I notified Google of a page that infringed my copyright and it was removed, but I just received an email saying it may be reinstated. What is happening?

We have likely received a counter notification regarding your removal request. In accordance with the law, the content will be reinstated unless you submit evidence that you’ve filed either a court action against the user seeking to restrain the allegedly infringing activity or a claim against the user with the U.S. Copyright Office Copyright Claims Board. If we don't receive that evidence from you within 10 days, we may reinstate the material to Google.

Disclaimer: We are not your attorneys and the information presented here is not legal advice. We provide it for informational purposes.