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You open your inbox and find an email saying your website used a “copyrighted” image. It threatens legal action unless you pay a fee, add a link, or click to view the evidence. Using copyrighted material without a license can create real liability, but not every copyright complaint is legitimate. Some are scams designed to extract money, login credentials, or a backlink to someone else’s website.
The short answer: a legitimate complaint identifies the specific work, the owner, and the exact material on your site, and asks you to remove it or license it. A scam is usually vague, pushes you to click a link or pay immediately, or asks for something that would not fix an infringement, like a backlink. Here is how to tell the difference before you respond.
Read the message carefully. A real complaint, whether it comes from the copyright owner, a licensing agency, or a lawyer, should tell you:
A complaint that says you “stole an image” without identifying which image, who owns it, or where it appears is a warning sign. Vagueness alone does not prove a claim is fake, though. Verify the allegation before you dismiss it.
Scam emails often include a link to “view the evidence” or an attached file described as proof of infringement. These links and files can install malware or lead to a fake login page built to capture your credentials. Do not click them. A legitimate sender can identify the image and the page on your site in the body of the email.
Real copyright owners do send license-fee demands, and some are aggressive. A demand that insists on payment within hours, through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or an unfamiliar payment portal, and without identifying the work, is far more likely to be a scam.
One of the most common scams of the past few years is the fake DMCA notice that demands a backlink. The sender claims you used their client’s image and says the matter will be dropped if you add a link to the client’s website. As Search Engine Land has reported, some of these notices come from fake law firms with AI-generated attorney photos. A real copyright owner wants the infringement stopped or paid for. A link does neither. A demand for a link is a strong sign the email is an SEO scheme, not a legal claim.
If the email claims to come from a law firm, check it. Look up the attorney with the state bar where they claim to practice, confirm the firm’s address and phone number independently, and be wary of firms with no history, stock-looking attorney photos, or free email addresses.
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) gives copyright owners a takedown process. A DMCA takedown notice is sent to an online service provider, such as a web host or platform, not to a government agency, and to be effective it must include specific elements listed in 17 U.S.C. § 512(c)(3). These include a signature of someone authorized to act for the owner, identification of the copyrighted work, identification and location of the allegedly infringing material, contact information, a statement of good-faith belief that the use is unauthorized, and a statement, under penalty of perjury, that the sender is authorized to act for the owner.
An email with “DMCA Copyright Infringement Notice” in the subject line is not a government communication, and it is not automatically valid. That said, if your host or platform forwards you a takedown notice, take it seriously: the provider may remove the content, and you may have the right to file a counter-notice if the claim is wrong. Our post on fake copyright takedown notices covers how false notices are used against website owners and platforms.
Most genuine copyright disputes begin informally, with a demand letter or email from the owner, a photo-licensing or enforcement company, or the owner’s attorney. If that does not resolve the matter, the owner can escalate in one of three ways:
Real CCB claims and lawsuits come with formal service of process, not just an email. If you receive official papers, note the deadlines immediately.
Warning signs include a vague accusation that does not identify the specific work, owner, or location on your site; links or attachments presented as evidence; pressure to pay immediately through unusual methods; a demand for a backlink instead of removal; and a law firm or sender you cannot independently verify. A legitimate complaint identifies the work, the owner, and the exact allegedly infringing material.
No. A DMCA takedown notice is sent by a copyright owner or its agent to an online service provider, such as a web host or platform. It is not issued by the government. To be effective, it must include the elements listed in 17 U.S.C. section 512(c)(3), including identification of the work and the allegedly infringing material and a statement made under penalty of perjury.
Because it is likely an SEO scam. Fake DMCA notices, sometimes from fake law firms, ask website owners to add a link to a client’s site in exchange for dropping a claimed infringement. A legitimate copyright owner typically wants the infringing material removed or a license fee paid. A link does not resolve infringement.
The Copyright Claims Board is a voluntary small-claims tribunal within the U.S. Copyright Office. Total recovery in a proceeding is capped at $30,000. A respondent who is properly served has 60 days to opt out. If the respondent does not opt out, the proceeding continues and the respondent is bound by the decision.
No. First verify that the sender owns the work, confirm the material actually appears on your site, check whether you had a license, and evaluate what the claim is realistically worth. Many demands are negotiable, and some are invalid. A copyright attorney can assess the claim before you pay or respond.
If you received a copyright complaint and are not sure whether it is legitimate, Revision Legal’s copyright infringement attorneys can review it and help you respond. You can contact us through the form on this page or call (855) 473-8474.
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