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DMCA

How to File a DMCA Takedown on Discord (2026 Guide)

By Recording Law Editorial Team11 min read
How to File a DMCA Takedown on Discord (2026 Guide)

To file a DMCA takedown on Discord, submit a notice through Discord's official support form or email copyright@discord.com under 17 U.S.C. § 512. Discord typically removes infringing content within 24 to 48 hours. You can also sue the infringing user directly in federal court or through the Copyright Claims Board for up to $30,000.

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How the DMCA Applies to Discord

Discord is one of the largest online communication platforms in the world, hosting millions of servers where users share images, videos, audio, links, and other content every day.

black pen resting on a closed leather-bound book on a wooden desk

Like all major platforms, Discord operates under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), a U.S. federal law that governs how online service providers handle copyright infringement.

Under 17 U.S.C. § 512, platforms like Discord can avoid liability for user-posted infringing content — but only if they comply with the notice-and-takedown system.

This means Discord is required to remove infringing content promptly when it receives a valid takedown request. In exchange, Discord is shielded from lawsuits over what its users post.

Discord's Copyright & IP Policy explicitly states that the platform respects the intellectual property rights of others and expects all users to do the same.

Key points of Discord's copyright policy include:

  • Users may not share, upload, or distribute content that violates someone else's copyright.
  • Discord will remove content found to infringe copyright after receiving a valid DMCA takedown notice.
  • It is Discord's policy to terminate the accounts of users who are determined to be repeat copyright infringers.
  • Filing a false or fraudulent DMCA takedown request can result in account suspension and potential civil liability.

Discord's Terms of Service also state that when you upload content to Discord, you grant the platform a license to use that content to operate its services — but you still own your content.

That distinction matters. Because you retain ownership of the content you post, other users who copy or redistribute your original work without permission may be infringing your copyright.

Discord's Designated DMCA Agent

Under 17 U.S.C. § 512(c)(2), online service providers must designate a DMCA agent with the U.S. Copyright Office to receive infringement notices. Discord complies with this requirement.

Discord's designated copyright agent can be reached at:

  • Email: copyright@discord.com (subject line: "DMCA Takedown Request")
  • Mail: Discord Inc., Attention: DMCA Takedown Request, 444 De Haro Street #200, San Francisco, CA 94107

Discord's designated agent information is also listed in the U.S. Copyright Office DMCA Agent Directory.

How to File a DMCA Takedown on Discord: Step by Step

If someone is sharing your original copyrighted work on Discord without your permission, you can request removal by submitting a DMCA takedown notice. Here's exactly how to do it.

Step 1: Gather Evidence

Before filing, document the infringing content carefully. Take screenshots or screen recordings of the content as it appears in the Discord server or channel.

You will also need to note the exact location of the infringing content. Discord uses a URL format that identifies the server, channel, and specific message:

https://discord.com/channels/[server-ID]/[channel-ID]/[message-ID]

You can right-click on a message in Discord (with Developer Mode enabled) to copy the message link directly.

Make sure you are the copyright owner or an authorized representative. DMCA takedowns may only be filed by the rights holder or someone acting on their behalf.

If your work is registered with the U.S. Copyright Office, note your registration number. Registration is not required to send a takedown notice, but it is required before you can sue for copyright infringement.

Step 3: Submit the DMCA Takedown Request

Discord provides an official form for submitting copyright complaints through its support portal.

From the support form, select "File a DMCA takedown request" from the dropdown menu.

Alternatively, you may email copyright@discord.com directly with the subject line "DMCA Takedown Request."

For help drafting your notice, you can use our Free DMCA Takedown Notice Builder.

Step 4: Include All Required Information

For a DMCA takedown to be valid under 17 U.S.C. § 512(c)(3), it must include:

  1. Your contact information — full name, address, telephone number, and email address.
  2. Identification of your original work — describe the copyrighted content being infringed (e.g., a photograph, song, video, or written work).
  3. Location of the infringing content — the exact Discord URL(s) where the infringing content appears.
  4. A good faith belief statement — a statement that you believe the use of the material is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
  5. Accuracy statement — a statement that the information in the notice is accurate.
  6. Perjury declaration — a statement, under penalty of perjury, that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on their behalf.
  7. Your signature — a physical or electronic signature.

Step 5: Submit and Wait for Discord's Response

Once submitted, Discord's Trust & Safety team reviews the request. Discord typically processes DMCA takedown requests within 24–48 hours.

If the request is valid, Discord will remove or disable access to the infringing content and notify the account holder that their content has been removed.

What Happens After You File a DMCA Takedown on Discord?

After Discord receives and verifies your takedown request, the platform will:

  • Remove or disable access to the infringing content.
  • Notify the user whose content was removed.
  • Record the infringement as part of its repeat infringer tracking system.

If a user accumulates multiple valid DMCA strikes, Discord may permanently terminate their account under its repeat infringer policy — a requirement under 17 U.S.C. § 512(i).

The Counter-Notification Process on Discord

If your content is removed following a DMCA takedown and you believe the removal was a mistake or misidentification, you have the right to file a DMCA counter-notification.

You can file a counter-notice through Discord's support portal. Your counter-notification must include:

  1. Your contact information (name, address, phone, email).
  2. Identification of the content that was removed and its previous location.
  3. A statement, under penalty of perjury, that you have a good faith belief the content was removed as a result of mistake or misidentification.
  4. A statement consenting to jurisdiction in the federal district court where your address is located (or any judicial district if your address is outside the U.S.).
  5. Your physical or electronic signature.

Once Discord receives a valid counter-notification, they will forward it to the original complainant. Unless the copyright owner files a court action within 10 to 14 business days, Discord may restore the removed content at its discretion.

If you are considering filing a counter-notification, be aware that submitting a false counter-notice can expose you to legal liability.

How to Report Infringing Content Location to Discord

Discord has published a detailed guide on how to report the location of materials for copyright and trademark claims.

Because Discord content can exist in different contexts — messages, servers, profiles, and applications — it's important to provide the correct identifier:

  • For a message: Provide the full Discord message link (server ID / channel ID / message ID).
  • For a server or community: Provide the server's invite link or server ID.
  • For a user profile: Provide the user's Discord username or user ID.

Accurate location information helps Discord's Trust & Safety team act faster on your request.

Yes. Filing a DMCA takedown gets the content removed, but if you want monetary compensation, you need to take legal action directly against the infringing user — not Discord.

Discord's safe harbor protections under 17 U.S.C. § 512 generally shield the platform from liability for user-posted content, but those protections do not extend to the individual user who posted the infringing material.

Requirements Before Suing

Before you can file a copyright infringement lawsuit, your work must be registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. Copyright registration is a prerequisite to filing suit in federal court under 17 U.S.C. § 411.

If your work is not yet registered, you can apply for registration online at copyright.gov. Once approved (or once you have applied, in some cases), you may proceed with a lawsuit.

How to Identify the Infringing User

One major challenge in suing a Discord user is identifying them. Discord does not publish user personal information publicly.

However, copyright owners can obtain a DMCA subpoena under 17 U.S.C. § 512(h) requiring Discord to disclose the identity of an alleged infringer. To do this, you must file a request with a U.S. district court that includes:

  • A copy of your original DMCA takedown notice.
  • A proposed subpoena ordering Discord to disclose identifying information.
  • A sworn declaration that the subpoena is sought only to identify the alleged infringer.

Notably, in 2024–2025, Discord contested certain DMCA subpoenas from game publisher Nexon, arguing that broad subpoena demands infringed on users' First Amendment anonymity rights. This illustrates that while DMCA subpoenas are a valid legal tool, Discord may challenge requests it considers overly broad.

Once you have the infringer's identity, you have two venues to pursue your claim:

Federal Court: You can file a lawsuit for copyright infringement in federal district court. This option is available for any amount of damages, including statutory damages up to $150,000 per work for willful infringement under 17 U.S.C. § 504.

Copyright Claims Board (CCB): The CCB is an alternative small-claims forum created by the CASE Act that handles copyright disputes up to $30,000 total (with statutory damages capped at $15,000 per work). It is a lower-cost, streamlined alternative to federal court — but it is voluntary, meaning the other party can opt out.

As of 2025, the CCB has processed over 1,700 claims since opening in June 2022, making it an increasingly viable option for individual creators.

Should You Sue or Just File a Takedown?

For most creators, filing a DMCA takedown is the faster and less expensive first step. Legal action is appropriate when:

  • The infringement is ongoing or the takedown is ignored.
  • You have suffered significant financial harm.
  • The infringer has a history of violations.
  • The infringing content is being monetized.

Before filing suit, many attorneys recommend sending a demand letter that identifies the infringement, demands it cease, and offers an opportunity to settle. This can resolve the dispute without costly litigation.

Discord's Safe Harbor Status Under 17 U.S.C. § 512

Discord qualifies as an online service provider (OSP) under the DMCA and is eligible for safe harbor protection under Section 512 of Title 17. This protection shields Discord from monetary liability for its users' infringing activity — but only as long as Discord:

  1. Does not have actual knowledge of the infringing material.
  2. Acts expeditiously to remove or disable access to infringing content upon notification.
  3. Does not financially benefit from the infringing activity when it has the right to control it.
  4. Has designated a DMCA agent registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.
  5. Has and enforces a repeat infringer termination policy.

If Discord were to fail any of these conditions — for example, by ignoring valid takedown notices — it could lose its safe harbor and face direct liability for user-posted infringement.

Fair Use on Discord

Not every use of copyrighted material on Discord is infringement. The fair use doctrine under 17 U.S.C. § 107 permits certain uses of copyrighted works without permission, based on four factors:

  1. Purpose and character of the use — Is it transformative? Nonprofit? Educational?
  2. Nature of the copyrighted work — Factual works receive less protection than creative ones.
  3. Amount and substantiality — How much of the original was used?
  4. Effect on the market — Does the use harm the market for the original?

Common fair use scenarios on Discord include commentary, criticism, parody, and short quotations. However, simply sharing a full image, song, or video — even in a private server — generally does not qualify as fair use.

Discord acknowledges that fair use and other exceptions may apply, but the platform does not make that determination. If you believe a takedown was incorrect, you must file a counter-notification.

Tips for Protecting Your Content on Discord

If you share original creative work on Discord, here are practical steps to protect yourself:

  • Register your work with the U.S. Copyright Office at copyright.gov. Registration is inexpensive and gives you the ability to sue for statutory damages.
  • Watermark images and videos before sharing them, even in private servers.
  • Monitor your content by searching Discord and other platforms periodically for unauthorized uses.
  • Act quickly when you find infringement — submit a takedown as soon as possible.
  • Keep records of your original creation dates (timestamps, drafts, file metadata).
  • Understand your license — if you share work publicly, be clear about what permissions you grant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Discord respond to DMCA takedown requests?

Yes. Discord is legally required to respond to valid DMCA takedown notices under 17 U.S.C. § 512. Upon receiving a valid request, Discord's Trust & Safety team removes or disables access to the infringing content, typically within 24–48 hours.

What email do I use to file a DMCA takedown with Discord?

Send your DMCA takedown request to copyright@discord.com with the subject line 'DMCA Takedown Request.' You can also use Discord's official support form at support.discord.com.

Can I find out who posted infringing content on Discord?

You can seek a DMCA subpoena under 17 U.S.C. § 512(h) from a U.S. district court requiring Discord to disclose the user's identifying information. Discord may contest overly broad subpoena requests citing user privacy rights.

What happens to repeat copyright infringers on Discord?

Discord's policy is to terminate the accounts of users who are determined to be repeat copyright infringers. This is required by the DMCA as a condition of Discord's safe harbor protection.

How long does it take for Discord to restore content after a counter-notification?

After Discord receives a valid counter-notification and forwards it to the complainant, removed content may be restored in 10 to 14 business days — unless the copyright owner files a court action during that window.

Updates

Governing law re-checked for recent changes

Sources and References

  1. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act(copyright.gov).gov
  2. 17 U.S. Code § 512 – Limitations on liability relating to material online(law.cornell.edu)
  3. Discord Copyright & IP Policy(support.discord.com)
  4. Discord Terms of Service(discord.com)
  5. How to Report the Location of Materials for Copyright and Trademark Claims – Discord(support.discord.com)
  6. Unauthorized Copyright Access Policy Explainer – Discord(discord.com)
  7. Section 512 of Title 17: Resources on Online Service Provider Safe Harbors(copyright.gov).gov
  8. Copyright Registration – U.S. Copyright Office(copyright.gov).gov
  9. Copyright Claims Board(ccb.gov).gov
  10. More Information on Fair Use – U.S. Copyright Office(copyright.gov).gov
  11. 17 U.S. Code § 504 – Remedies for infringement: Damages and profits(law.cornell.edu)
  12. DMCA Designated Agent Directory – U.S. Copyright Office(copyright.gov).gov
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