DMCA Counter Notification Template

Truebones, use this template, if content that you’ve uploaded to Gumroad, Sketchfab, YouTube, Unity, Unreal, etc., has been removed due to an improper DMCA notification.

REMOVE ALL SECTIONS OF THE TEMPLATE THAT DO NOT APPLY TO YOUR CASE.

Return the counter-notification via mail at the address below or via email legal-at-gumroad, legal-at-sketchfab, legal-at-epicgames.

DMCA Counter Notification Example

Gumroad or Sketchfab or Epic Games,

Dear <name>,

This letter is a formal response to a claim of copyright infringement against one or more of the documents that I’ve uploaded and published on (Site).com. I believe the claims of copyright infringement are inaccurate and should be rejected because:

DELETE SECTIONS THAT DO NOT APPLY

The material in question is not copyrighted, or the copyright has expired in the United States of America. It is therefore in the public domain and may be reproduced by anyone.

The complainant has provided no copyright registration information or other tangible evidence that the material in question is in fact copyrighted, and I have a good faith belief that it is not. The allegation of copyright violation is therefore in dispute, and at present unsupported.

The complainant does not hold the copyright to the material in question, is not the designated representative of the copyright holder, and therefore lacks standing to assert that my use of the material is a violation of any of the owner’s rights.

My use of the material is legally protected because it falls within the "fair use" provision of the copyright regulations, as defined in 17 USC 107. If the complainant disagrees that this is fair use, they must work directly with me, though legally viable channels, to resolve the dispute.

The complaint does not follow the prescribed form for notification of an alleged copyright violation as set forth in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, 17 USC 512(c)(3). Specifically, the complainant has failed to:

  • Provide a complaint in written form. [17 USC 512(c)(3)(A)]

  • Include a physical or electronic signature of the complainant. [17 USC 512(c)(3)(A)(i)]

  • Identify the specific copyrighted work claimed to be infringed, or, if multiple copyrighted works are covered by a single complaint, provide a representative list of such works. [17 USC 512(c)(3)(A)(ii)]

  • Provide the URLs for the specific files on my web site that are alleged to be infringing. [17 USC 512(c)(3)(A)(iii)] Provide sufficient information to identify the complainant, including full name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address. [17 USC 512(c)(3)(A)(iv)] Include a written statement that the complainant has a good faith belief that use of the disputed material is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law. [17 USC 512(c)(3)(A)(v)]

  • Include a written statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that the complainant is authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed. [17 USC 512(c)(3)(A)(vi)]

  • This communication to you is a DMCA counter notification letter as defined in 17 USC 512(g)(3):

  • I declare, under penalty of perjury, that I have a good faith belief that the complaint of copyright violation is based on mistaken information, misidentification of the material in question, or deliberate misreading of the law.

  • I ask that Epci Games/Gumroad/Sketchfab, upon receipt of this counter-notification, restore the material in dispute, unless the complainant files suit against me within ten (10) days, pursuant to 17 USC 512(g)(2)(B).

My name, address, and telephone number are:

FULL NAME

MAILING ADDRESS

TELEPHONE NUMBER

I hereby consent to the jurisdiction of Federal District Court for the judicial district in which I reside (or, if my address is outside the United States, the jurisdiction of the Federal District Court for the San Francisco, California judicial district).

I agree to accept service of process from the complainant.

Best regards,

ELECTRONIC OR ACTUAL SIGNATURE

What to do next?

The earlier you send it, the better it gets!

Copy this template to email, send to legal-at-gumroad-dot-com or legal-at-epicgames-dot-com, or legal-at-sketchfab-dot-com.

Do’s and don’ts

  • Don’t make useless rant videos saying that Gumroad / Sketchfab / EpicGames took your content down. If Truebones owned the content, he can easily file a counter-notice to get it put back.

  • Don’t make useless videos about calling-up Epic’s, Gumroad’s or other lawyers.

  • Do use the free WordPad in Windows, and use the free Microsoft PDF Printer to print a PDF file.

  • Do get legal help to fill-in this simple template.

Why can’t Truebones file a counter-notice?

  • Truebones is smart-enough to know, if he counter-replies, he will get sued in court, and have to pay damages. Truebones could potentially lose his house.

  • Truebones claims his brother is a lawyer. So why can’t his brother help him file a counter-notice?

  • Truebones has made no new models or animations for months. Do you believe that Joe made all the models and animations on his Gumroad store?