Abusing DMCA Takedowns

The use of Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown requests as a competitive tactic—targeting rival content, listings, or distribution channels regardless of actual infringement, to disrupt visibility, traffic, or operations.

Deployment Strategies

Mass Filing Campaigns

Submitting multiple takedowns across platforms to overwhelm moderation systems and maximize disruption before appeals are processed.

Pre-Launch Suppression

Filing claims against upcoming competitor releases to delay launches or create legal uncertainty during critical windows.

False Attribution

Claiming ownership of content with weak or fabricated evidence to trigger automated removals without judicial oversight.

Platform Policy Exploitation

Targeting platforms with strict takedown compliance procedures, where content is removed immediately without evaluating claim validity.