This workflow is meant as a practical starting point for handling notices consistently, not as legal advice. If you have questions about how a specific case should be handled, consult an attorney.
1. Takedown notice received (via your dmcarelay.com address or web form)
→ DMCA Relay screens it first. If it’s incomplete or invalid, it’s rejected there and never reaches you.
2. Valid notice forwarded to you
→ Log it (see our tracking template).
→ Remove or restrict access to the material identified. Do this promptly — the DMCA doesn’t set a strict deadline, but delay weakens your safe-harbor position.
3. Notify the affected customer
→ Use the customer notification template. Include what was removed, when, and their right to counter-notify.
→ Start your internal clock: if they’re going to counter-notify, there’s no deadline on their end, but track it anyway for your own records.
4. Notify the reporting party
→ Notify the party that submitted the original complaint. Let them know that the material was removed, optionally list the removed material, and optionally include notes on any extenuating circumstances.
→ If you’re a DMCA Relay customer, you can just reply to the ticket that we sent you and we will forward the response to the reporting party.
5. Did the customer submit a counter notification?
- No → Case closed. Material stays down. Log final status.
- Yes → Continue to step 6.
6. Validate the counter notification
→ Check it has all required elements (signature, identification of material, good-faith statement, contact info, consent to jurisdiction, acceptance of service).
→ Invalid/incomplete → return to customer, note what’s missing, don’t forward.
→ Valid → continue to step 7.
7. Forward the counter notification to the original complainant
→ If you’re a DMCA Relay customer, you can forward the notification to the ticket we opened with you, or you can have your customer send it directly to us at your submit-[slug]@dmcarelay.com address. This starts the 10-business-day clock.
8. Did the complainant notify you of court action within 10 business days?
- No → You may restore the material. Notify the customer it’s back up. Close case.
- Yes (they filed for a court order) → Keep material down pending outcome. Log as open/legal-hold. Don’t restore until resolved.
9. Repeat infringer check
→ At each closed takedown (regardless of counter-notice outcome), check the customer’s notice count against your threshold — see our repeat infringer policy guidance.
→ Threshold met → follow your suspension/termination procedure (see our suspension/termination template).