DMCA Policy

This DMCA Policy explains how Ao3 responds to copyright infringement claims in accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). ao3.info is an independent fanfiction website that respects the rights of copyright holders while supporting transformative, fan-created works.

1. DMCA Overview

The DMCA is a United States copyright law that provides a legal process for copyright owners to request the removal of material they believe infringes their rights. Under this law, website operators are required to act on valid copyright notices and provide a process for affected users to respond.

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ao3.info follows a standard “notice and takedown” procedure to remain legally compliant while treating users fairly.

2. Submitting a DMCA Takedown Notice

If you are a copyright owner or an authorized agent and believe that content on ao3.info infringes your copyright, you may submit a DMCA takedown request. A valid notice must include:

Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to be infringed
Identification of the material claimed to be infringing, with sufficient detail to locate it
Your contact information, including name and email address
A statement that you have a good faith belief the use is not authorized
A statement made under penalty of perjury that the information is accurate
Your physical or electronic signature

Upon receipt of a complete and valid notice, we may remove or disable access to the content and notify the user who posted it.

3. Counter-Notice Process

If you believe that your content was removed in error or misidentified as infringing, you may submit a counter-notice. A counter-notice is a legal statement asserting that you have a good faith belief the removal was a mistake.

A valid counter-notice must include:

Identification of the removed material and its prior location
Your contact information
A statement under penalty of perjury that you believe the removal was an error
Your consent to the jurisdiction of a U.S. federal court
Your physical or electronic signature

Once a valid counter-notice is received, it will be forwarded to the original complainant. Unless they notify us that they have filed legal action, the content may be restored after 10 to 14 business days.

4. Repeat Infringement

Users who repeatedly submit infringing material may have their posting privileges restricted or their accounts terminated, in accordance with DMCA requirements.

5. Posting Guidelines and Copyright Responsibility

Users are expected to post only content they created themselves or content they have permission to share. Uploading copyrighted material without authorization, or reposting another creator’s work without consent, is not allowed.

Transformative fanworks are encouraged, but creators remain responsible for ensuring their submissions comply with copyright law.

6. Good-Faith Use of the DMCA Process

The DMCA process should not be abused. Submitting false or misleading takedown notices or counter-notices may result in legal consequences. ao3.info reserves the right to reject notices that are incomplete or appear to be submitted in bad faith.

7. Contact

If you have questions about this DMCA Policy, need help submitting a notice, or believe content on the site infringes your rights, please use the contact information provided on the Ao3 homepage.

This DMCA Policy exists to protect both copyright holders and fan creators while maintaining a lawful and respectful environment for everyone using ao3.info.