What are the options?
We understand that mistakes and misunderstandings can occur in the copyright complaint process. Hence, we provide several ways to resolve a complaint of copyright infringement and take retractions and appeals into consideration when implementing our repeat infringer policy.
Request a Retraction
A retraction is a request that a complainant submits to Google to withdraw the copyright removal request they originally made. Google will assess retractions and restore the content previously removed where appropriate. We consider retractions only if they are submitted by the original complainant. Many users reach out directly to the complainant to seek a retraction or to negotiate a resolution before submitting an appeal to Google.
Submit an Appeal
If your content has been removed from a Google product due to a copyright removal request, and you believe there has been an error or you have the right to use the claimed material, you may appeal the removal. Please follow these instructions to do so:
If your content was removed pursuant to a copyright removal request, you may file an appeal, also known as a counter notice. Please understand that filing a counter notice may lead the complainant to initiate legal proceedings against you. After we receive your counter notice, we will evaluate it and, if appropriate, forward it to the complainant. After we forward your counter notice, if the complainant does not initiate legal proceedings against you within 10 business days, and the content does not violate any other Google policy, we will restore your content. You can read more in our counter notice FAQ.
Appeal an account restriction or termination
If your Google account was terminated or restricted under our repeat infringer policy due to multiple copyright complaints, and you do not wish to address the situation through the counter notice process, you may also appeal by submitting the Legal Content Removal Appeal Form.
We reinstate restricted and terminated accounts only if the account action was taken in error or the justification for it proved to be invalid. It is important that you take the time to be thorough, accurate, and honest when appealing an account restriction or termination. If your appeal is unsuccessful, your account will not be reinstated.