How to Submit a Google DMCA Takedown Notice

google dmca

If stolen content is damaging your reputation online, a Google DMCA takedown can help remove it from search results.

Whether it’s a copied blog post, image, or video, the DMCA process lets you request removal—if you meet the right criteria and follow the steps carefully.

This guide shows you exactly how to file a DMCA notice, when it applies, and what to do if it doesn’t.

What is a Google DMCA Takedown Notice?

A Google DMCA Takedown is a formal request to remove links from Google Search that point to copyrighted material you own. It’s based on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), a U.S. law designed to protect creators from content theft online. 

When approved, a DMCA takedown can lead to:

  • Search Result Removal: The infringing URL(s) are deindexed from Google Search so fewer people see it.
  • Platform Removal: If the content lives on a Google-owned platform like YouTube, Blogger, or Google Drive, it may be taken down entirely.

DMCA takedowns are especially useful if your stolen content is harming your personal or professional reputation. We often see this effect:

  • Executives and business owners whose company bios or blog posts are reposted without consent
  • Professionals dealing with unauthorized use of headshots, portfolios, or resumes
  • Public figures facing stolen media or personal documents being circulated online

But, it’s important to understand what a DMCA notice can’t do:

It removes the link from Google Search, not the content from the original website. If you want to take the content down at the source, you’ll need to go beyond the DMCA process.

When Can You Use a DMCA Takedown?

To file a DMCA takedown with Google, you must be the copyright owner or have permission from the owner. 

Just because you appear in a photo or video doesn’t mean you own it—if someone else took the photo, they hold the copyright.

DMCA takedowns are for stolen original content like writing, photos, and videos—not for content that’s:

  • Protected under fair use (such as commentary, parody, or reviews)
  • Based on facts, opinions, or public records
  • Something you previously gave permission to share or uploaded yourself

If your situation doesn’t qualify, there are still ways to remove or suppress the content from search results.

What Qualifies as a DMCA Violation?

Not all online content qualifies for a Google DMCA Takedown. To be eligible, the content must infringe on copyrighted material that you own–not just content that’s upsetting, embarrassing, or false. 

Understanding what counts (and what doesn’t) can save you time and help you take the right next step.

Eligible for a DMCA Takedown

Not Eligible for a DMCA Takedown

Blog posts or articles you wrote

Public records (e.g., court cases)

Photos, videos, or designs you created

Photos or videos you didn’t create (the photographer owns the copyright)

Business bios or website content copied without consent

Negative reviews or personal opinions

Social media content you created and posted

Content previously shared with permission or under terms of services

Course materials, eBooks, or original documents

Factual reporting or news coverage

Work reposted without permission and not protected under fair use

Parody, commentary, or review content protected under fair use

What to do When DMCA Doesn’t Apply:

If your situation doesn’t qualify for a DMCA takedown, you’re not out of options.

There are other ways to remove or bury harmful content–especially if it’s hurting your reputation, privacy, or livelihood.

Here’s what you can try instead:

Option

What it Does

Learn More

Content Removal Requests

Request removal directly from platforms if content violates policies (e.g. harassment, defamation, impersonation).

How to remove something from the internet

Suppression Strategies

Publish positive, SEO-friendly content to outrank and push harmful results off the first page.

Suppress negative search results

Search Result De-Indexing

Remove links from Google search results even if the content stays live on the original site.

Removing content from search results

Review Management

Remove or manage fake or damaging reviews that harm your business reputation.

Online review management best practices

Public Record Removal

Remove personal details like arrests or lawsuits scraped from public records and posted online.

Removing public records from the internet

Leaked Images Removal

Remove private or sensitive photos or videos shared without your consent, even when DMCA doesn’t apply.

Remove leaked pictures

 

DMCA doesn’t apply? We can still help.

Reputation911 offers custom content removal services for professionals, executives, and businesses facing complex reputation issues. 

Evidence to Gather Before Submitting a DMCA Notice

Before filing a DMCA takedown with Google, it’s essential to gather strong, clear evidence. This helps Google verify your claim and speeds up the review process.

Here’s what to prepare:

  • Original content URL or file: Link to where your original work was first published (e.g., your website, portfolio, or social media account. If it was never published online, upload it somewhere private (like Google Drive) and include the shareable link in your submission. 
  • URL of the infringing content: Copy the direct link to the page where the stolen content appears. Make sure it points to the actual post or file–not just the homepage of the site.
  • Screenshots of both versions: Take clear screenshots of your original work and the stolen version, side-by-side if possible. Include timestamps or metadata if available. This adds credibility and shows a clear timeline of events.
  • Copyright registration (optional): If your content is registered with the U.S. Copyright Office, include the registration number or upload a copy of the certificate. This isn’t required, but it strengthens your claim and may discourage the other party from filing a counter-notice.
  • Clear, specific description: Explain exactly what was copied. Example: “The full blog post titled ‘10 Ways to Protect Your Brand’ from my site www.mysite.com was reposted word-for-word on the infringing URL.” Avoid vague language. Be direct and detailed. 

The more complete your evidence, the more likely Google is to honor your takedown request.

Ready to file? We’ll walk you through the steps next. 

How To Submit a Google DMCA Takedown Notice (Step-by-Step)

Once you’ve gathered your evidence, you’re ready to submit your request.

Filing a Google DMCA takedown notice can feel intimidating, especially if it’s your first time–but the process is more straightforward than it seems. The key is to follow each step carefully and provide clear, accurate information.

Here’s a quick overview of the process

TL;DR: Google DMCA Takedown Steps

  1. Log In and Access the Google DMCA Dashboard
  2. Choose the Right Google Product
  3. Select the Reason You Wish to Report Content
  4. Confirm Copyright Ownership & Create Your Request
  5. Fill Out Your Information
  6. Describe Your Copyrighted Work
  7. Sign the Legal Agreements and Submit the Form

1. Log In and Access the Google DMCA Dashboard

To begin your takedown request, you’ll need to access Google’s official copyright removal tool.

Start by clicking this link: Google DMCA Dashboard

Log into your Google account if you aren’t already. Use the same email address you’ll list in the form – Google will send all confirmation and case status updates to that email address.  

Once logged in, you’ll be guided through a series of questions to help Google understand where the infringing content appears and what types of copyrighted material you’re protecting. 

If you don’t own your name as a domain yet, now’s the time to claim it. A well-optimized website is one of the strongest tools you have to bury negative search results long-term. 

2. Choose the Right Google Product

After logging into the DMCA dashboard, Google will ask which product your complaint is about. 

You’ll see options like:

  • Google Search – for removing links from search results
  • YouTube – for videos uploaded without your permission
  • Blogger – for blogs reposting your content
  • Google Drive – for stolen files or media shared via Drive
  • Google Ads – for ads using your copyrighted work

Be sure to select the specific platform where the infringing content appears. If the content is posted across multiple platforms, you’ll need to submit separate takedown requests for each one. 

Example: If a stolen photo appears in both Google Search and on a YouTube video, submit two separate forms — one for each platform.

Next, select whether the content appears on Google Search, Google Images, or another search feature.

You will then be asked if the request relates to content generated by AI within a Google product. Select Yes or No.

3. Select the Reason You Wish to Report Content

Once you’ve chosen the correct Google product, you’ll be asked why you’re reporting the content. Follow these steps:

Select “Legal Reasons to Report Content

Select “Intellectual Property

Select “Copyright” 

This informs Google that your request is a DMCA takedown notice, not a general complaint or privacy issue. Selecting the wrong category can delay your request or send it to the wrong team.

4. Confirm Copyright Ownership & Create Your Request

Next, you’ll confirm that you have the legal right to submit the DMCA request and officially begin creating your request.

You will be asked, “are you the copyright owner or authorized to act on their behalf?” Select “Yes” to continue.

Next, choose the type of work that was stolen–image, video, or other.

Read the instructions carefully, then click the blue “Create Request” button. 

After you click the “Create Request” button, you’ll be asked to sign in if you haven’t already done so. 

5. Fill Out Your Information

Once you’ve created your request, Google will prompt you to enter your personal and ownership details. This confirms who you are and establishes that you have the legal right to file the complaint.

Here’s what to fill out:

  • First Name
  • Last Name
  • Company Name (Optional)
  • Copyright Holder You Represent–Select “Myself” unless you are submitting on behalf of someone else
  • Check the box: “I confirm that I am the copyright holder”
  • Choose Your Country/Region from the dropdown menu

6. Describe Your Copyrighted Work

Now it’s time to describe the content you own and show exactly where it appears online–and where it’s been copied without your permission. 

First, Google will ask:

“Is the submission related to an unauthorized stream of an upcoming live-event?”

Select “Yes” or “No”, depending on your situation (most cases should select No.)

Next, identify and describe the work

Give the title of your original content and a brief, clear description of what it is (e.g., “Original blog post published on my website,” or “Professional headshot taken by me”).

Then, provide URLs where the copyrighted work can be viewed. Add the link to your original content (e.g., your blog post, portfolio, or social media post). This helps Google confirm that you created it.

Give the location of infringing materials. Add the URL of the stolen or copied content–this is what you want Google to remove from search results or its platforms.

If multiple works have been stolen and posted to the same Google product, click the blue “Add new group” button to include more than one work.

7. Sign the Legal Agreements and Submit the Form

Before Google processes your takedown request, you’ll need to confirm a few legal statements and sign the form electronically.

Check off the required boxes to confirm:

  • You believe in good faith that the use of your copyrighted material is not authorized
  • The information you’ve provided is accurate and truthful
  • You are the copyright owner or authorized to act on their behalf
  • You understand that a copy of your request will be sent to the Lumen project, a public database that archives takedown notices

Next, give your electronic signature. Select today’s date and type your full name into the signature box. 

Finally, complete the CAPTCHA to verify you’re not a bot and click the “Submit” button to finish.

Once submitted, Google will review your request and email you updates about the status of your takedown.

Submitting a DMCA notice is a legal action. Be sure everything you’ve entered is accurate and complete before signing.

What Happens After You Submit the DMCA Notice?

Once you submit your request, Google will begin reviewing your case. Here’s what to expect:

  • Review Time: Most DMCA notices are reviewed within 1 to 3 weeks
  • Search Result Removal: If your claim is approved, the infringing URLs will be deindexed from Google Search—meaning they won’t show up when people search your name or business
  • Notification Sent: The person who posted the content will receive a copy of your takedown request along with notice that their content has been reported
  • Counter-Notice Option: They may choose to file a counter-notice if they believe the takedown was a mistake or they have a legal right to use the content

If a valid counter-notice is filed, you’ll be notified. At that point, unless you file a lawsuit within 10–14 business days, Google may restore the content to search results.

The DMCA process gives both parties a chance to be heard. That’s why it’s important to submit strong, clear evidence the first time.

Next Steps to Take if Google DMCA Notice is Unsuccessful:

If Google rejects your DMCA takedown request, don’t panic. It doesn’t necessarily mean your claim is invalid—it may just need more detail or better documentation.

Here’s what to do next:

  • Review the Rejection Reason: Google will usually explain why they denied your request. Common reasons include vague descriptions, insufficient evidence, or unclear ownership claims.
  • Fix Mistakes: Double-check your submission for issues like screenshots without timestamps or context, missing/incorrect URLs, or generic/unclear descriptions of your content.
  • Add More Supporting Evidence: Include stronger documentations if you have it, like dated posts, metadata, or copyright registration. 
  • Rewrite Your Description: Be clear, specific, and direct. Explain exactly what was copied and where it appeared.
  • Resubmit Through the DMCA Dashboard: Once your updates are ready, log back into the dashboard and refile your notice.

Final Thoughts: Filing DMCA Takedowns to Repair Your Reputation

Filing a Google DMCA takedown can help remove stolen content from search results—but it’s not always quick or easy.

Key Takeaways:

Need Expert Help?

If you’re struggling with the process or your case doesn’t qualify, Reputation911 can help with personalized content removal services

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