Internet and IT Disputes FAQ’s

Looking for some answers? Check out our helpful FAQ’s section.

Internet and IT Disputes FAQ’s

What can I do if someone is pirating my work on the internet?

If you own the rights to creative work (e.g. music, movies, pictures, photographs, books) and someone is distributing copies on the internet without your permission, then there are several things you can do.

First, using a Word document or similar, copy and paste a list of all weblinks (URLs) offering an unlawful distribution of your work and save a copy of this. If the website in question displays an email address then you can send a cease and desist email (see ‘what should i put in a cease and desist email?’) to the webmaster. If no email address is displayed you can use a service such as WhoIs.com to identify whoever owns/hosts the site.

A cease and desist email can then be sent to the owner/hosting company. If as a result of the email the offending content is removed, and the breach of copyright not repeated, then normally that should be regarded as an end to the matter.

What if the cease and desist process does not achieve the desired effect?

Another step you can take is to report the offending URLs to Google at:

https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/removals – Google will then investigate and, if appropriate, remove the URL from their search index which will prevent the pirated works from appearing in Google searches. However, if this does not resolve matters then at that stage it would be appropriate for you to seek specialist legal advice because internet piracy operates across international boundaries, and the law relating to copyright has its complexities within all jurisdictions.

What should I put in a cease and desist email?

We have found this form of wording to be both simple and effective:

“I am the owner of [all rights/copyright/publishing rights] in the creative work [Title and Description] copies of which you are distributing via the link below without my permission.

Please cease this practice forthwith and please also undertake not to repeat any further infringements of my rights. Kindly inform me as to how this file came to be uploaded to your site and provide me with an account of all copies of the file unlawfully distributed by you.”