Reporting copyright infringement or responding to a copyright notice
On this page, you can find information about Shopify's copyright policy, how to report copyright infringement, and how to respond to a copyright notice.
On this page
Shopify's copyright policy
Shopify complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and responds to claims of copyright infringement using DMCA procedures, including the law's process of notice and counter notice for claimed copyright infringement:
- If Shopify receives a valid notice of alleged copyright infringement, then it will generally remove the challenged content from its platform and will inform the affected merchant via the store admin of the content that has been affected.
- Shopify will give the merchant an opportunity to send a counter notice explaining why they think the content was removed in error. And if the counter notice is valid, then a merchant will generally be allowed to repost the content in 10 days.
- Shopify has a policy of terminating stores for repeat infringement in appropriate circumstances, such as where it has received several notices of alleged infringement that are not countered by the store. Shopify retains discretion to disable stores for even a single instance of willful or egregious infringement.
- The submission of false or bad faith notices of claimed infringement or counter notices is punishable by law. Those harmed by such notices, including Shopify itself, may sue for damages and attorneys' fees.
Reporting copyright infringement
Shopify's online form is the most efficient way to submit a notice of alleged copyright infringement. All notices must include the following information for Shopify to be able to take action:
- Your legal name and contact information.
- Direct links to the original copyrighted work claimed to be infringed. If you don't have a direct link, then you can provide a description of your work.
- Direct links to the specific content on Shopify that you believe infringes your copyright. A list of each individual page containing the content is required. A general shop link will not be accepted.
- Confirmation that:
- You have a good faith belief that use of the content in the manner complained of isn't authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
- All of the information in the notice is accurate.
- A statement, under penalty of perjury, that you're the copyright owner or are authorized to act on behalf of the owner.
- Your physical or electronic signature.
If you can't use the online form, then you can send a notice with the required information to Shopify's designated agent at:
Shopify Trust & Safety
Shopify Inc.
151 O'Connor Street
Ground floor
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 2L8
Canada
Email: legal@shopify.com
Responding to a DMCA copyright notice
I received a DMCA copyright notice for content on my storefront. Now what?
If Shopify receives what it reasonably believes to be a complete and valid DMCA notice regarding content on your store, then it generally will remove the specified content. You'll get a notification in your store admin that content has been removed from your store. You then have two options:
- If you review the notice and agree you don't have the right to use the content, then no further action is necessary. The content will remain offline unless you receive approval from the copyright holder.
- If you review the notice and believe the content was removed as a result of mistake or misidentification, then you can file a DMCA counter notice.
How do I file a DMCA counter notice?
You can send a counter notice to us through a form in your store admin. Your counter notice must include all of the following information to be considered:
- The legal name and sufficient contact information of the person submitting the counter notice.
- Identification of the content that has been removed and the original location of the content before it was removed.
- A statement that you consent to the jurisdiction of Federal District Court for the judicial district in which your address is located or, if your address is located outside of the United States, you consent to jurisdiction of the Federal District Court for the District of Delaware.
- A statement that you will accept service of process from the party who submitted the copyright notice or its agent.
- A statement under penalty of perjury that you have good faith belief that the content was removed as a result of a mistake or misidentification.
- Your physical or electronic signature.
If you can't use the online form, then you can send a counter notice with the required information to Shopify's designated agent at:
Shopify Trust & Safety
Shopify Inc.
151 O'Connor Street
Ground floor
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 2L8
Canada
Email: legal@shopify.com
What happens after I file a DMCA counter notice?
When you submit a valid counter notice, we'll remove the complaint from your Shopify account record and send a copy of your counter notice to the party that submitted the copyright notice. If they take legal action against you and send us notice of that action within 10-14 business days, then the content may remain down. If we don't receive notice of legal action within that period, then we'll notify you and you may repost the disputed content.