Fake and AI-generated DMCA notices are used to silence creators and competitors. Paste the takedown or copyright strike you received or upload a photo, and get an instant read — legitimate, questionable, or likely fake — with the missing legal elements and how to file a counter-notice. Free. Nothing you submit is stored.
Quick answer — A valid DMCA §512(c)(3) takedown must identify the specific copyrighted work and the infringing material, include the sender's real contact information, and contain a good-faith-belief statement and a statement under penalty of perjury with the rights-holder's signature. Missing those elements — or demands for payment, arrest threats, or a vague 'you're infringing our content' — point to a fake or abusive notice you can challenge with a counter-notice.
A real DMCA §512(c)(3) takedown must identify the specific copyrighted work and the infringing material, include the sender's real contact info, a good-faith-belief statement, a statement under penalty of perjury, and the rights-holder's signature. Missing those — or demands for payment, arrest threats, or a vague "you're infringing our content" — point to an abusive or fake notice.
Official sources
This guidance is compiled from official U.S. government sources. For your specific situation, verify directly: