📋 DMCA & Copyright Policy
Last Updated: January 25, 2026
RateMyBody respects the intellectual property rights of others and complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (17 U.S.C. § 512). This page explains how to file a copyright complaint if you believe your work has been infringed.
Important: DMCA notices must be submitted under penalty of perjury. Filing false claims may result in legal liability for damages, attorney's fees, and costs.
1. Designated DMCA Agent
Pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 512(c)(2), RateMyBody has designated an agent to receive notifications of claimed copyright infringement:
📧 Designated Copyright Agent
Service Name: RateMyBody.net
Agent Role: DMCA Compliance Officer
Submission Method: DMCA Takedown Request Form
Jurisdiction: Finland (EU) / International
Note: RateMyBody operates from Finland under EU law but complies with DMCA requirements for US copyright holders per 17 U.S.C. § 512. This designated agent serves as our point of contact under DMCA §512(c).
2. Filing a DMCA Takedown Notice
If you believe that content on RateMyBody infringes your copyright, you may file a DMCA takedown notice. Your notice must include all of the following information as required by 17 U.S.C. § 512(c)(3):
- Identification of the copyrighted work:
- Describe the copyrighted work you claim has been infringed
- If multiple works, provide a representative list
- Include registration numbers if registered with the US Copyright Office
- Identification of the infringing material:
- Provide the exact URL(s) of the content on RateMyBody
- Be specific enough to allow us to locate the material
- Example: https://ratemybody.net/photo.php?id=12345
- Your contact information:
- Full legal name
- Mailing address
- Telephone number
- Email address
- Good faith statement:
- Include the following language: "I have a good faith belief that use of the copyrighted material described above is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law."
- Accuracy statement under penalty of perjury:
- Include the following language: "I swear, under penalty of perjury, that the information in this notification is accurate and that I am the copyright owner or am authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed."
- Physical or electronic signature:
- Typed full legal name (serves as electronic signature)
- Or scanned physical signature
How to Submit Your DMCA Notice
Step 1: Visit our DMCA Takedown Request Form
Step 2: Complete the form with all required information listed above
Step 3: Submit the form - you will receive a confirmation email with a ticket number
Step 4: We will process your request within 1-2 business days
- Acknowledgment: Within 24 hours of receipt
- Initial Review: 1-2 business days
- Content Removal: Within 3 business days if notice is valid
- User Notification: Alleged infringer is notified per DMCA requirements
3. DMCA Counter-Notice
If you are a user whose content was removed due to a DMCA notice, and you believe the content was removed in error or you have authorization to use the material, you may file a counter-notification pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 512(g)(3).
- Your physical or electronic signature
- Identification of the material removed:
- Description of the content
- Location where it appeared before removal (URL)
- Statement under penalty of perjury:
- "I swear, under penalty of perjury, that I have a good faith belief that the material was removed or disabled as a result of mistake or misidentification of the material."
- Your contact information:
- Full legal name
- Address
- Telephone number
- Email address
- Consent to jurisdiction:
- US users: "I consent to the jurisdiction of the Federal District Court for the judicial district in which my address is located, or if my address is outside of the United States, the judicial district in which RateMyBody is located, and I will accept service of process from the person who provided the original DMCA notice or an agent of such person."
- Non-US users: "I consent to the jurisdiction of the appropriate courts in Finland, and I will accept service of process from the person who provided the original DMCA notice or an agent of such person."
How to Submit a Counter-Notice
Submit your counter-notice using our DMCA Counter-Notice Form with all required information.
By filing a counter-notice, you are starting a legal process. The original complainant will have 10-14 business days to file a lawsuit seeking a court order to keep the content down. If they do not, we may restore your content. If they do file suit, they must notify us, and the matter will proceed through the courts.
False counter-notices can result in legal liability. Only file a counter-notice if you genuinely believe the content was removed by mistake or you have the right to post it.
4. Repeat Infringer Policy
In accordance with 17 U.S.C. § 512(i), RateMyBody has adopted and reasonably implemented a policy to terminate, in appropriate circumstances, the accounts of users who are repeat infringers.
- First violation: Content removed, warning issued
- Second violation: Content removed, account suspended for 30 days
- Third violation: Account permanently terminated
We maintain records of DMCA notices and repeat infringers for at least 3 years as required by law.
5. Misrepresentation and Bad Faith
Please note that under 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who knowingly materially misrepresents that:
- Material or activity is infringing, or
- Material or activity was removed or disabled by mistake or misidentification
Shall be liable for any damages, including costs and attorneys' fees, incurred by the alleged infringer, the copyright owner, or the service provider as a result of relying upon such misrepresentation.
Filing a false or bad faith DMCA notice or counter-notice can result in:
- Monetary damages under 17 U.S.C. § 512(f)
- Attorney's fees and court costs
- Perjury charges (federal crime in the US)
- Permanent ban from submitting future notices to RateMyBody
Only file a DMCA notice if you are certain that:
- You own the copyright or represent the copyright owner
- The use is not authorized by law (e.g., fair use)
- The material genuinely infringes your rights
6. Safe Harbor Protection
RateMyBody operates as a service provider under the DMCA safe harbor provisions (17 U.S.C. § 512(c)). We:
- Do not have actual knowledge of infringing activity until notified
- Do not receive financial benefit directly attributable to infringing activity
- Expeditiously remove or disable access to infringing material upon receiving proper notice
- Have implemented a repeat infringer policy
- Accommodate and do not interfere with standard technical measures
We comply with all DMCA requirements to maintain our safe harbor status and are not liable for user-uploaded content.
7. EU Copyright Directive (DSM Directive)
As an EU-based service (Finland), RateMyBody also complies with Directive (EU) 2019/790 on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market (DSM Directive).
- We implement content recognition technology where appropriate (Article 17)
- We cooperate with rightholders to prevent availability of unauthorized works
- Users are informed about our copyright policies upon upload
- We provide effective complaint and redress mechanisms for users (Article 17(9))
8. Fair Use and Limitations
RateMyBody respects the principles of fair use (17 U.S.C. § 107) and EU copyright exceptions. Before filing a DMCA notice, consider whether the use might be:
- Fair use (US): Commentary, criticism, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research
- Copyright exceptions (EU): Quotation, criticism, review, parody, or other lawful purposes
If you believe content may fall under fair use or legitimate exceptions, we encourage dialogue before filing a takedown notice.
9. Non-Copyright Complaints
DMCA notices are specifically for copyright infringement. If your concern is different, please use the appropriate reporting method:
- Revenge porn / non-consensual: Use Report Photo Form → "Non-consensual / Revenge Porn"
- You are depicted: Use Report Photo Form → "I am the person depicted"
- Underage / minors: Use Report Photo Form → "Underage / Minors" (urgent)
- Harassment / hate: Use Report Photo Form → "Harassment / Hate Speech"
- Privacy violation: Use Privacy Request Form
10. International Copyright Law
RateMyBody respects copyright laws worldwide. We are bound by:
- Finland: Finnish Copyright Act (Tekijänoikeuslaki 404/1961)
- European Union: EU Copyright Directives and DSM Directive
- United States: US Copyright Act (Title 17) and DMCA
- International Treaties: Berne Convention, WIPO Copyright Treaty
11. Contact Information
📞 Copyright & DMCA Contacts
DMCA Takedown Notice: Submit DMCA Notice
DMCA Counter-Notice: Submit Counter-Notice
Copyright Questions: Legal Inquiries Form
Report Other Issues: Report Photo
Operating Entity: RateMyBody, Finland
Jurisdiction: Finland (EU) / International compliance
Response Time: 1-3 business days for DMCA notices
I want to...
- ✉️ File a copyright takedown → Submit DMCA Notice
- ↩️ Contest a takedown → Submit Counter-Notice
- 🚨 Report illegal content → Report Photo Form
- 📧 Ask a legal question → Legal Inquiries
- 📜 Review policies → Terms of Service
This DMCA policy is a legally binding document. By submitting a DMCA notice or counter-notice, you are making statements under penalty of perjury and may be subject to legal liability for damages if you knowingly make material misrepresentations.
If you are unsure whether content infringes your copyright or whether your use is protected by fair use or other exceptions, consult with an attorney before filing a notice.
RateMyBody reserves the right to publish DMCA notices and counter-notices (with personal information redacted) for transparency and to deter abuse of the DMCA process.