Whether you sell pre-recorded adult videos, nudes, or live cam shows, your content shouldn’t be appearing elsewhere on the internet for free. Our videos, streams, and photos are our livelihood.
The problem is that not everybody sees it this way…
Well, that and the Internet is full of trolls and a**holes…
Despite all the amazing business opportunities the internet has afforded sex workers, it’s also brought a hoard of scammers and illegitimate entities who love nothing more than stealing erotic content from behind paywalls and uploading it for free elsewhere. And if you’re reading this right now, you can probably relate.
Spying your own face (or body) somewhere online you didn’t expect it to be is troubling — even scary.
But you have rights you can assert via a DMCA takedown request. Provided it’s submitted and considered in the correct way, said request is your ticket to removing the frauded content and regaining control of your business.
Why Are DMCA Takedowns Useful For Models?
DMCA, otherwise known as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, is a 1998 United States copyright law that governs copyright-related problems on the internet, criminalizing copyright infringement and those who attempt to circumvent access controls (i.e., paywalls and premium videos, images, or streams) to certain media.
A DMCA takedown, therefore, uses the law to have the unauthorized content officially removed from the internet.
For models, this means the DMCA allows you to safeguard your exclusive content—whether it’s a private stream, premium photos, or custom videos—from being shared or sold without your permission.
In other words, you (i.e., the adult content creator and owner of the stolen footage) give the person who posted your content a takedown notice based on the copyright protections given to you under the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
How DMCA Takedowns Work
Imagine you post an adult video to OnlyFans. You’re enjoying your time online when you notice your video on somebody else’s platform (whether that’s their own website or social media platform) without your permission. You want this taken down, right?
Enter DMCA takedown requests.
Real-Life Examples in Action
- Scenario 1: Pirated Streams on Adult Sites
A cam model discovers that her private shows from Chaturbate have been ripped and uploaded to a third-party tube site. She files a DMCA takedown notice with the site, providing proof of her ownership, and the videos are removed within days. - Scenario 2: Social Media Theft
A creator notices screenshots from her OnlyFans account circulating on Twitter. By using X/Twitter’s built-in copyright infringement form (which aligns with DMCA), she quickly has the posts deleted. - Scenario 3: Stolen Identity on Cam Sites
An impersonator creates a fake profile on another cam site using stolen videos of a model. The model sends a DMCA takedown to the platform and notifies her followers to prevent further confusion and loss of income.
These requests are sent to the website hosting the stolen content as well as the person who uploaded the content.
Typically, they’re sent in letter form (although email is allowed) and detail where the content was posted, what was posted, and the link to the video.
The Good and the Bad
While we believe the DMCA and its inner workings are a good thing, the process isn’t always as beneficial as you’d like to think.
Let’s caveat the good… with the bad…
The Good
- Fair Use Protection:
Fair use is a legal doctrine within the DMCA that permits limited use of copyrighted material without the copyright holder’s (i.e., your) permission. The law determines whether particular use of the material is fair depending on many factors, including the purpose, amount, and substantiality of the use. - Copyright Holder Protection:
This is the part that protects you, the copyright holder. The law protects those who can show testimony of their ownership of the content. It’s one of the best ways to protect your intellectual property online. - Safe Harbor:
The law provides safe harbor for digital content creators — adult models included. - Law-Backed:
Since the DMCA is a US law, DMCA takedown requests are legally backed, bolstering the likelihood of success.
The Bad
- Enforcement Difficulties:
Since infringing content can be difficult to find, the law is often hard to enforce. This is particularly common when the infringer resides/operates outside the United States’ jurisdiction. And we hate to say this… but that is usually the case. - Limited Protection for Creators:
Despite the safe harbor and protective nature of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, it offers rather limited protection for creators. Sadly, many takedown requests aren’t given the proper care and attention they deserve, leaving infringers to continue damaging creators’ livelihoods. - Content May Reappear:
Even when DMCA takedowns are successful, your content may reappear from the same or a different party.
We must accept the limitations of what a DMCA takedown request can and cannot achieve. It might be able to remove your leaked nudes from ONE site, but it can’t stop them from appearing elsewhere on the IInternet.
DMCA is typically a game of cat and mouse, so the steps below are often taken by agencies acting on the model’s behalf.
Whether you choose to hire an agency or go it alone is up to you, but let’s take a look at the process…
How to Send a DMCA Takedown Notice
Despite the cons, we encourage every creator and cammer to fight back against the rampant misuse and unauthorized distribution of their content.
Exercising your rights is crucial, even when it doesn’t pay off in the way you’d imagined.
With that in mind, here’s how to send a DMCA takedown request:
Preparation
Acting quickly yet remaining organized is the way to do this.
It’s not easy when you become a popular model and the amount of leaks tends to increase exponentially.
DMCA takedowns need to include a few components to be deemed valid and complete, such as:
- Work identification — Whether it’s your topless photo or a full-blown video that’s been stolen, you need to identify the goods and describe them. Yeah, kinda awkward… but it needs to be done. The official receiving the notice needs to know the creative work that’s being infringed on.
- Infringing content location — Keep the exact URLs where you found the content. You need to include the direct link to the specific video or image in your link. It should lead straight to the content you want taken down — one click only.
- Good faith statement — This doesn’t have to be long, but it does need to state that you or a person acting on your behalf (like an attorney) are acting in good faith under the believe that the content isn’t authorized to be used, posted, or shared by other party.
- Penalty of perjury — Many creators confuse the penalty of perjury statement with the above-mentioned good faith statement. But despite being similar, they are not the same. Like the good faith statement, the penalty of perjury is short but notes that all the information you provide in the notice is accurate.
- Contact information — You should include your name, email address, home address, and phone number so you (or your representative) can be reached by the DMCA site if needed to progress your takedown request.
- Signature — Whether it’s an electronic signature or not, it’s best practice to include your name and signature to indicate the notice was actually signed rather than autofill.
Submitting The Notice
Once it’s ready to go, you need to ensure it lands in the right hands. Typically, the perfect place is the legal contact or website admin listed on the site where your content was posted. You’ll tend to find the contact information under the website’s terms and conditions.
Sometimes, sites provide specific DMCA notice portals, allowing you to easily submit your notices. These portals may even connect you with a trusted DMCA contact point, ensuring your request is handled with the utmost urgency and respect.
Yes, the irony is not lost on us creators that sites which profit from our hard work are ready and waiting to direct our complaints to their DMCA page. It’s almost like their business model is built on the cat and mouse game. But that’s another rant for another day…
There’s another side to the coin, though — some websites, particularly those outside the United States, ignore or deny DMCA requests. At this point, your best port of call is legal help. Although we always think its worthwhile to contact the host of said offending websites and make it clear that illegal content is being hosted.
The Aftermath
In a perfect world, your notice will be met with nothing more than a kind response and an immediate takedown. But sadly, we don’t live in an ideal world.
While the above is certainly a possibility, you may receive a counter notice or fair use statement. These state the recipient doesn’t believe the material violates the DMCA and thus, will not take it down.
At this point, the first remedy is a deep breath. We feel your frustration.
Regardless of the reply’s content, you could be waiting anywhere from 24 hours to six months to receive it.
Since all websites are different, there isn’t a definite timeframe, but the duration can be affected by the site’s size and whether they need to contact individual infringers.
How Effective Are The Requests?
The bigger you become as an adult model, the more leaked content you’ll have to put up with.
At some point, it grows too much for one creator handle. Luckily, you can pay for a DMCA takedown service — they submit requests on your behalf. In the words of BleedingFae, an OnlyFans creator, “At some point in this business, you have to pay for a DMCA takedown service because leaks become rampant. Even for small creators I recommend it because it’s inevitable.”
But not all DMCA takedown services are equally as effective.
Some of the most well-known entities in the online adult industry have pretty low removal success rates.
To make sure you’re getting enough efficacy for your buck, check Google’s transparency reports. They’ll show you how successful they are at delisting or removing pirated content — a must-know for properly safeguarding your work.
Takedowns Requests Are Never Risk-Free…
No matter what you do in life, there are always risks. And the same can be said for DMCA takedown requests.
We all feel wronged in this situation, but the sad reality is that trying to fix the situation can lead to even bigger headaches…
Doxing
Don’t underestimate how low people will go to not comply with your notice.
Recipients have been known to dox copyright holders and publicly post DMCA notices without redacting any sensitive information. We don’t have to tell you how dangerous this can be.
Suing
Bad faith or frivolous takedown notices are grounds for suing. So, even though it’s a rare occurrence, never send takedown requests unless you’re prepared to defend your decision in court.
Retaliation
Those who are particularly vindictive can retaliate against your DMCA notice by publishing even more of your content. This is known as the Streisand effect and can lead to seemingly neverending legal battles.
If All Else Fails: Professional Help is the Way Forward
While it’s true that hiring a lawyer can be costly, there are affordable and accessible options for cam models to protect their work without breaking the bank.
DMCA Takedown Services
Several companies specialize in handling DMCA takedown requests for content creators. They monitor the web for unauthorized use of your content and file notices on your behalf. Some popular options include:
- DMCA.com: Offers affordable plans tailored to creators.
- TakeDownPiracy.com: Focuses on adult content creators and has experience in your industry.
- RedPoints: Provides automated content monitoring and takedown services.
These services often charge a flat monthly fee, making it more affordable than hiring a full-time lawyer.
Legal Assistance Platforms
Platforms like LegalShield or Rocket Lawyer offer affordable subscriptions that give you access to lawyers who can assist with DMCA issues. While these aren’t free, their monthly costs are far lower than hiring an attorney outright.
Collective Protection Networks
Some camming platforms, like OnlyFans or Fansly, offer DMCA takedown assistance for creators. By working through your platform, you can save both time and money, as they already have legal teams in place to handle these matters.
Freelance Legal Help
Websites like Upwork or Fiverr can connect you with freelance lawyers or paralegals specializing in copyright and DMCA takedowns. These professionals often charge per task, making them a budget-friendly option for specific needs.
Creator Advocacy Organizations
Groups like SWOP (Sex Workers Outreach Project) or FSC (Free Speech Coalition) sometimes provide resources or advice for adult creators facing copyright issues. While they may not file takedowns for you, they can often connect you with affordable legal help.
Community Support
Other models can be a wealth of knowledge. Forums like AmberCutie or subreddits like r/CamModels often have threads discussing affordable solutions for DMCA enforcement. These communities can also recommend trusted professionals or services.
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