Along with the TEACH Act, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) set restrictions and exemptions for copyright law on digital media and distance learning, as it is found in current U.S. Code Title 17. It also specifies the methods by which one should report copyright infringements to an institution.
Infringement Claim Format
The DMCA specifies that all infringement claims must be in writing (either electronic mail or paper letter) and must include the following:
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A physical or electronic signature of the copyright holder or a person authorized to act on his or her behalf;
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A description of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed, or, if multiple copyrighted works at a single online site are covered by a single notification, a representative list of such works at that site;
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A description of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity, and information reasonably sufficient to permit the service provider to locate the material;
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Information reasonably sufficient to permit the service provider to contact the complainant, such as an address, telephone number, and, if available, an electronic mail address;
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A statement that the complainant has a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and
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A statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that the complainant is authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.
Please also take note of Truman State University’s full DMCA Policy.
The full text of the DMCA may be found in U.S. Code Title 17, Appendix B. Interpretations may be found in the following locations:
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Summary
U.S. Copyright Office, Digital Millennium Copyright Act Summary