Когда подавать претензию по copyright infringement
Типичные ситуации
Ваш контент (текст, изображения, видео, музыка, код) используется на чужом сайте без permission.
Третья сторона продает копии вашего copyrighted work (книги, курсы, software).
YouTube/Instagram/TikTok аккаунт republished ваш content без attribution.
Competitor скопировал ваш website design, текст, или marketing materials.
You discovered infringement через Google search, reverse image search, или DMCA reports.
Что такое copyright infringement в США
Copyright защищается Copyright Act (17 U.S.C.) и дает exclusive rights автору:
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Exclusive Rights (17 U.S.C. § 106)
Copyright owner имеет exclusive right to: (1) reproduce the work, (2) prepare derivative works,
(3) distribute copies, (4) perform the work publicly (для certain works), (5) display the work publicly,
(6) perform via digital audio transmission (для sound recordings). Unauthorized exercise любого права = infringement.
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What is Protected
Original works of authorship fixed в tangible medium: literary works, musical works, dramatic works,
pictorial/graphic/sculptural works, motion pictures, sound recordings, architectural works, software.
Не защищается: ideas (только expression), facts, titles, short phrases, public domain works.
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Registration Requirement
Copyright exists автоматически при creation. Но для US litigation требуется register work с Copyright Office.
Registration перед infringement (или в 3 месяца после publication) дает право на statutory damages и attorney's fees.
Без registration - только actual damages.
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DMCA § 512 Takedown
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 512) позволяет отправить takedown notice к online service provider
(website host, platform) для removal infringing content. Это faster и cheaper чем litigation. Provider обязан удалить
content в reasonable time или теряет safe harbor immunity.
Когда отправлять demand letter vs. DMCA takedown
| Scenario |
Approach |
Timeline |
| Content на third-party platform |
DMCA takedown notice к platform (YouTube, Instagram, hosting provider) |
1-7 дней для removal |
| Commercial use/sales |
Demand letter напрямую infringer + DMCA (если online), потребовать accounting of profits |
10-14 дней для response |
| Competitor copying |
Demand letter + cease and desist, угроза litigation если не complies |
10-14 дней + litigation prep |
| Repeat infringer |
DMCA takedown(s) + demand letter warning permanent injunction и statutory damages |
Immediate action |
| Mass piracy |
Register copyright (если ещё нет) + litigation seeking statutory damages × number of works |
Litigation required |
Important: Fair Use Defense
Не всякое copying является infringement. Fair use (17 U.S.C. § 107) позволяет limited use для: criticism,
comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, research. Four factors: (1) purpose/character of use (commercial vs. nonprofit),
(2) nature of copyrighted work, (3) amount used, (4) effect on market value. Fair use - это affirmative defense,
burden на defendant. Но aggressive demand letter против obvious fair use может backfire (anti-SLAPP motion).
Нужна помощь с copyright enforcement?
Я готовлю DMCA takedown notices и demand letters для copyright disputes с учетом Copyright Act.
Работаю на русском и английском. Фиксированная цена.
Правовые основания для претензии
Copyright Infringement (17 U.S.C. § 501)
Elements of copyright infringement claim:
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Ownership of Valid Copyright
Plaintiff owns copyright в work. Ownership доказывается: (1) copyright registration certificate (prima facie evidence),
(2) evidence of creation/authorship, (3) work of hire agreement (если applicable). Registration обязательна
для filing US lawsuit - должна быть completed перед suit filed.
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Copying of Constituent Elements
Defendant copied protected elements of work. Доказывается: (1) access к work (defendant had opportunity to view/copy),
(2) substantial similarity между plaintiff's work и defendant's work. Forensic analysis может показать verbatim copying
(software, text). Substantial similarity - это objective и subjective test.
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No Fair Use or Other Defense
Defendant не может заявить valid defense (fair use, license, independent creation). Burden на plaintiff показать
prima facie infringement, потом burden shifts на defendant для affirmative defenses.
Remedies под Copyright Act
17 U.S.C. § 502-505 предоставляет следующие remedies:
| Remedy |
Description |
Requirements |
| Injunction (§ 502) |
Preliminary и permanent injunction prohibiting further infringement |
Likelihood of success, irreparable harm, balance of hardships |
| Actual Damages (§ 504(b)) |
Copyright owner's lost profits + infringer's profits (disgorgement) |
Proof of damages; burden на infringer для deductible costs |
| Statutory Damages (§ 504(c)) |
$750-$30,000 per work (или до $150,000 if willful) |
Registration перед infringement или в 3 месяца после publication |
| Attorney's Fees (§ 505) |
Full recovery of legal fees (discretionary) |
Registration perед infringement; prevailing party |
| Impoundment/Destruction (§ 503) |
Seizure и destruction of infringing copies |
Court order; applies to physical goods |
DMCA § 512 Safe Harbor и Takedown
Online service providers (OSPs) имеют safe harbor от liability если comply с DMCA takedown:
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DMCA Takedown Notice Requirements (§ 512(c)(3))
Notice должен включать: (1) identification of copyrighted work, (2) identification of infringing material + location (URL),
(3) your contact information, (4) good faith statement что use not authorized, (5) statement under penalty of perjury
что info accurate и you are copyright owner (или authorized agent), (6) physical/electronic signature.
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OSP Obligations
После получения valid notice, OSP должен: (1) expeditiously remove или disable access к material,
(2) notify user who posted content. Если OSP не complies - теряет safe harbor immunity и может быть liable
за infringement наравне с user. OSPs обычно remove content fast чтобы avoid liability.
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Counter-Notice (§ 512(g))
User может подать counter-notice заявляя mistake или fair use. Тогда OSP должен restore content в 10-14 business days
unless copyright owner files lawsuit. Counter-notice triggers litigation decision for copyright owner.
Willful Infringement vs. Innocent Infringement
Willful infringement (defendant knew или should have known) позволяет enhanced statutory damages до $150,000 per work
+ attorney's fees. Innocent infringement (reasonable belief use was lawful) может reduce statutory damages до $200 per work.
Но если work содержало copyright notice - innocent infringement defense не работает. Always include © notice на ваших works.
Консультация по copyright enforcement
Разберу вашу ситуацию, определю ownership rights, оценю damages, подготовлю DMCA notice или demand letter.
Шаблоны DMCA takedown и demand letter
DMCA Takedown vs. Demand Letter
DMCA takedown - для быстрого removal content с platform/website. Направляется hosting provider или platform (Google, YouTube, etc.).
Demand letter - для direct communication с infringer, требуя cease use, accounting of profits, damages.
Best practice: отправить оба - DMCA для immediate removal + demand letter для damages и permanent cessation.
Сниппеты для DMCA Takedown Notice (EN)
To: [PLATFORM/HOSTING PROVIDER DMCA AGENT]
[AGENT EMAIL/ADDRESS from provider's DMCA page]
Subject: DMCA Takedown Notice - Copyright Infringement
I am writing on behalf of [YOUR NAME/COMPANY] ("[Copyright Owner]"), the exclusive owner of copyright in the work(s) described below.
1. IDENTIFICATION OF COPYRIGHTED WORK:
The copyrighted work at issue is:
[DESCRIBE WORK: e.g., "Original article titled '[TITLE]' published on [YOUR WEBSITE] on [DATE]"]
[OR: "Original photograph taken by [PHOTOGRAPHER] on [DATE], available at [YOUR URL]"]
[IF REGISTERED: "Registration Number: [COPYRIGHT REG NUMBER]"]
2. IDENTIFICATION OF INFRINGING MATERIAL:
The infringing material is located at:
URL: [FULL URL OF INFRINGING PAGE/POST]
[IF MULTIPLE: List all URLs]
Description of infringement: The above URL(s) contain unauthorized copies of [Copyright Owner]'s copyrighted work. [DESCRIBE: verbatim copy, substantial reproduction, etc.]
3. CONTACT INFORMATION:
Name: [YOUR NAME]
Address: [YOUR ADDRESS]
Phone: [YOUR PHONE]
Email: [YOUR EMAIL]
4. GOOD FAITH STATEMENT:
I have a good faith belief that the use of the copyrighted materials described above is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
5. ACCURACY STATEMENT:
I swear, under penalty of perjury, that the information in this notification is accurate and that I am the copyright owner, or am authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner.
6. SIGNATURE:
/s/ [YOUR NAME]
Date: [DATE]
Отправьте на designated DMCA agent email platform - найдите на их website
I represent [YOUR NAME/COMPANY] ("[Copyright Owner]") regarding your unauthorized use of copyrighted material owned by [Copyright Owner].
[Copyright Owner] is the creator and exclusive owner of the copyrighted work titled "[WORK TITLE]" (the "Work"), created on [DATE] and [IF REGISTERED: registered with the U.S. Copyright Office under Registration Number [NUMBER] on [DATE]].
Your website/platform [WEBSITE/PLATFORM NAME] is displaying, reproducing, and distributing the Work without authorization, in violation of 17 U.S.C. § 501 (copyright infringement). This letter constitutes formal demand that you immediately cease all use of the Work and remove all infringing copies.
Включите copyright registration number если есть - это strengthens claim
Your website [URL] contains unauthorized copies of the Work, including:
• [DESCRIPTION: e.g., "Verbatim reproduction of the entire text of the Work"]
• [DESCRIPTION: e.g., "Display of [NUMBER] copyrighted images without license"]
• [DESCRIPTION: e.g., "Distribution of copies of the Work for commercial sale"]
Evidence of infringement:
• Screenshots of your website dated [DATE] showing the Work displayed at [URL] (attached as Exhibit A);
• [IF COMMERCIAL USE:] Your website advertises the Work for sale at [PRICE], generating revenue from [Copyright Owner]'s copyrighted content;
• [IF ATTRIBUTION REMOVED:] You removed copyright notice and attribution from the Work;
• [IF APPLICABLE:] Metadata analysis confirms the files were copied from [Copyright Owner]'s original publication.
[Copyright Owner] has not granted you any license, permission, or authorization to use the Work. Your use does not constitute fair use under 17 U.S.C. § 107, as it is [commercial/verbatim copy/harms market value].
Детальное описание infringement strengthens ваш case
[Copyright Owner] demands that you, no later than [DATE] at 5:00 p.m. [TIME ZONE]:
(a) Immediately cease all use, reproduction, distribution, and display of the Work;
(b) Remove all copies of the Work from your website(s), social media accounts, and any other platforms under your control;
(c) Destroy all copies of the Work in your possession, including digital files, backups, and derivative works;
(d) Provide written confirmation of compliance, including:
• List of all URLs where the Work was displayed (now removed);
• Confirmation that all copies have been destroyed;
• Accounting of all revenues derived from use of the Work;
(e) Agree in writing to permanently refrain from using the Work or any substantially similar works in the future.
[IF COMMERCIAL USE:]
Additionally, you must provide a full accounting of:
• Total revenues generated from sale, licensing, or display of the Work;
• Number of copies distributed or sold;
• Dates of first use and all subsequent uses.
10-14 дней стандартный deadline для copyright demand
If you fail to comply with this demand, [Copyright Owner] will immediately commence federal litigation under the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 501 et seq., seeking:
• Preliminary and permanent injunction prohibiting further infringement (17 U.S.C. § 502);
[IF REGISTERED:]
• Statutory damages of $750 to $30,000 per infringed work, or up to $150,000 per work for willful infringement (17 U.S.C. § 504(c));
• Attorney's fees and full costs of litigation (17 U.S.C. § 505);
[IF NOT REGISTERED:]
• Actual damages reflecting [Copyright Owner]'s losses and your profits derived from infringement (17 U.S.C. § 504(b));
• Impoundment and destruction of all infringing copies (17 U.S.C. § 503).
[IF WILLFUL:]
Your infringement appears to be willful, as [DESCRIBE: you ignored copyright notice, continued use after DMCA takedown, removed attribution]. Willful infringement carries enhanced statutory damages up to $150,000 per work, plus mandatory attorney's fees.
[Copyright Owner] has registered [or is in the process of registering] the Work with the U.S. Copyright Office, which entitles [Copyright Owner] to statutory damages and attorney's fees without need to prove actual damages.
Statutory damages - это powerful leverage для settlement
[Copyright Owner] has previously issued [NUMBER] DMCA takedown notice(s) to [PLATFORM] regarding your infringing use of copyrighted materials on [DATES]. Despite removal of infringing content, you have continued to re-post infringing materials.
Under 17 U.S.C. § 512(i), online service providers must implement a policy for termination of repeat infringers. [Copyright Owner] will notify [PLATFORM] that you are a repeat infringer and request permanent termination of your account.
Additionally, repeat infringement demonstrates willfulness, which supports enhanced statutory damages of up to $150,000 per work and mandatory attorney's fees in litigation.
[Copyright Owner] demands that you permanently cease all copyright infringement and refrain from posting any content that infringes [Copyright Owner]'s copyrights in the future.
Для repeat infringers - угроза account termination очень effective
Нужна помощь с DMCA или demand letter?
Я подготовлю DMCA takedown notice или demand letter с учетом вашего copyright registration и evidence.
Чек-лист: подготовка к enforcement
Важно: verify copyright ownership first
Перед отправкой DMCA или demand убедитесь, что вы owner of valid copyright. Проверьте: you created work,
или acquired copyright через assignment/work for hire, copyright не expired (life + 70 years для most works post-1978).
False DMCA notice может привести к liability под § 512(f) - damages + attorney's fees если misrepresentation.
После отправки DMCA/demand
DMCA takedown: platform обычно removes content в 1-7 дней. Если defendant files counter-notice - у вас 10-14 дней
подать lawsuit иначе content будет restored. Demand letter: дайте 10-14 дней для response. Если ignores -
готовьтесь к litigation (file complaint в federal court). Preserve evidence - defendant может удалить content
после получения notice.
Помощь с copyright enforcement
Я помогу verify ownership, собрать evidence, file copyright registration (если нужно), подготовить DMCA или demand letter.