Most companies that operate sites that allow users to share content (including Vimeo, Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr) provide a guided path for submitting DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998) takedown notices against infringing content.
Learn more about DMCA in the Vimeo Help Center at 'What is the DMCA?'.
Here are links to a number of relevant DMCA pages:
Similarly, if a pirated version of your video shows up in Google search results, you can file a DMCA takedown notice at Google's 'Report alleged copyright infringement: Web Search' form to get the link removed.
For sites that don’t have a built-in DMCA notice process, you will need to construct your own takedown notice. Here are some tips for how to proceed:
- Read up on the DMCA takedown process. Vimeo’s DMCA page provides a summary of the process. Keep in mind that filing a DMCA notice has legal consequences and you will have to make sworn statements under penalty of perjury. If you are unsure about whether you have the right to file a takedown notice, consult an attorney.
- You should carefully consider whether Fair Use or other considerations might apply, or if what you've found is an unaltered rip of your material.
- Next, determine the host for the site that is sharing your video. Sometimes the host is obvious, but other times you will need to do some detective work. Sites like WhoIsHostingThis can be helpful in gathering this information.
- Once you find the host, look for its designated copyright agent. This information is often included in the Terms of Service, Terms of Use, or Legal section linked from the footer of the hosting site. You might be able to find the designated copyright agent on this list.
- With this information, you can send the host the takedown notice for your video. Be sure you have fully completed all the required elements. There are several places online that can help you construct a DMCA takedown notice. See here for more info. Email is usually sufficient for sending a DMCA notice, although feel free to send a postal notice as well.
- After you send your takedown notice, a DMCA-compliant host will generally remove the identified in an expeditious manner. However, every site has its own procedures that it will likely explain to you upon receipt of your takedown notice.
- If needed, repeat the takedown process for all the sites hosting your pirated material.
If you can’t find the designated agent for a particular website, or you don’t receive a response to your notice, you will need to consult with an attorney to explore other options.