How to Remove Stolen Photos and Plagiarized Content From Google (DMCA Takedown Guide 2025)

Content theft is one of the most soul-crushing experiences for creators. You pour hours into writing an article, taking professional photos, or producing a video—and then some scraper site rips it wholesale and ranks higher than your original.

Or worse: someone took your personal photos without permission and is using them to catfish, scam, or defame you.

In 2025, Google has streamlined the DMCA takedown process, making it faster than ever to remove stolen content from search results. This guide walks you through the exact steps to reclaim your intellectual property and shows when you need professional help.

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What the DMCA Actually Does (And Doesn't Do)

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) is federal law that protects copyright holders from unauthorized reproduction of their work.

Critical distinction:

• What DMCA removes: The infringing content from Google Search results (de-indexing)
• What DMCA does NOT do: Delete the original page from the hosting website

If you file a DMCA with Google, the page disappears from search, but the site's admin can still see it. To truly delete the content, you must also demand it from the hosting provider or domain registrar.

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Step 1: Gather Your Evidence (Critical for Success)

Before you file, organize your proof. Google's review team needs to verify your ownership claim.

What You Need:

1. Proof of Ownership

• Original files with creation dates (photos EXIF data, documents with timestamps)
• Copyright registration certificate (optional but powerful)
• Screenshots or links to where you originally published the work

2. The Infringing URLs

• Every page where your stolen content appears
• If the same content is on 10 different scraper sites, you'll submit 10 DMCA notices (or one with multiple URLs)

3. Clear Comparison

• Side-by-side screenshots showing your original vs. the stolen version
• Timestamps proving you published first
• Proof of substantial similarity

Pro Tip:

Use a reverse image search (Google Images, TinEye) to find every place your photo is being stolen. Document all instances. The more thorough you are here, the faster Google approves your DMCA.

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Step 2: File a DMCA Takedown Notice With Google (The Fast Path)

Google has made the DMCA process incredibly straightforward in 2025. Average approval time: 6 hours.

The Process:

1. Go to Google's Legal Removal Portal

   • Navigate to Google's Report Content for Legal Reasons page
   • Sign in with the Google account you want associated with the removal request

2. Select Your Product

   • Choose "Google Search" (or YouTube, Blogger, Google Images, etc.)
   • Click "Copyright infringement" as your issue type

3. Fill Out the DMCA Form

   • Description of copyrighted work: What did they steal?
   • URLs of your original work: Links to where your content first appeared
   • Infringing URLs: The exact URLs where the stolen content now appears
   • Good faith statement: Confirm you believe this use is unauthorized
   • Accuracy statement: Confirm the information is accurate under penalty of perjury
   • Your digital signature: Type your full name (legally binding)

4. Submit and Track

   • Google will send a confirmation email
   • You can track status in Google Search Console Removals Dashboard
   • Most approvals happen within 6–24 hours for clear-cut cases

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💡 Pro Tip: If you took the photo (even a selfie), you own the copyright. This is often more powerful than privacy-based removal requests.

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Step 3: Attack the Source (Remove It Everywhere, Not Just Google)

Once Google removes it from search, you still have a problem: the content still exists on the hosting website.

If the thief re-uploads it to a different URL, it comes back. If someone finds the direct link, they can still access it.

Option A: Contact the Website Owner (If Responsive)

1. Look for contact/DMCA information on the site
2. Send a cease-and-desist letter explaining copyright infringement
3. Include a copy of your DMCA notice to Google
4. Give them 10 business days to comply

Success rate: Low (many scraper sites ignore everything) but worth trying.

Option B: DMCA to the Hosting Provider (The Muscle Move)

If the site owner ignores you, escalate to the hosting company or registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, etc.).

1. Find the hosting provider using WHOIS lookup
2. Send a formal DMCA notice directly to their legal/abuse department
3. Most hosting providers will suspend the site if they receive a legitimate DMCA complaint
4. Timeline: 24–48 hours for suspension

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Step 4: Counter-Notices & What If They Fight Back?

After you file a DMCA, the website owner can file a counter-notice claiming the content is authorized or qualifies as "Fair Use."

Fair Use exceptions include:

• Educational criticism or commentary (reviewing your work)
• News reporting
• Parody or satire

Most scrapers won't bother with a counter-notice because they have no legal ground. But if they do:

1. Google will notify you
2. You have 14 days to respond
3. If you want to proceed, you'll need to file a lawsuit or obtain a court order

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The "Repeat Offender" Problem (When One DMCA Isn't Enough)

The nightmare scenario: You remove the content from 5 sites, but a week later it appears on 15 new sites.

This happens because:

• Automated scrapers re-copy your content daily
• Spammy SEO farms deliberately steal popular content
• Competitors deliberately plagiarize to undercut you

The DIY limit: You can't file DMCAs forever. You'll burn out.

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🛡️ Drowning in Stolen Content? We automate monitoring and takedowns so you can focus on creating, not fighting. Learn about our DMCA services →

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When You Need Professional Help

For endemic plagiarism or coordinated content theft, professional help changes the game.

1. Automated Monitoring & Takedowns

• We scan the web daily for your stolen content across multiple sites
• The moment a new theft is detected, we automatically file DMCAs and contact hosting providers
• You don't have to hunt; we hunt for you

2. The "Registrar" Escalation

• We have direct relationships with major domain registrars
• Instead of waiting for a counter-notice, we can pressure the registrar to suspend the domain entirely based on repeated infringement
• This kills the site, not just one page

3. The "Copyright Strike Pattern" Defense

• Google has started flagging sites that receive repeated DMCA notices
• If a scraper site has received 50+ legitimate takedowns, Google demotes it in rankings automatically
• We document and escalate this "pattern" to get faster results

4. Cease & Desist + Legal Escalation

• For serious, repeat offenders, we draft and send formal cease-and-desist letters
• We cite statute and precedent, not just emotion
• Many sites fold when they realize a lawyer is involved

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The Complete Removal Checklist

| Step | Action | Timeline | DIY? | |------|--------|----------|------| | 1 | File DMCA with Google | 6–24 hours approval | ✅ Yes | | 2 | Contact hosting provider | 24–48 hours suspension | ✅ Yes | | 3 | Send cease & desist to site owner | 10 days response window | ✅ Yes | | 4 | Monitor for re-uploads | Ongoing | ❌ Hard (Professional) | | 5 | Escalate to registrar | 5–7 days domain suspension | ❌ Professional |

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Pricing for DMCA/Copyright Services

| Service | Standard | Priority | |---------|----------|----------| | DMCA / Copyright Infringement | $199 | $349 | | Multi-Site Takedown Campaign | $399 | $599 | | Ongoing Monitoring + Removal | Custom | Custom |

All plans include:

• Google de-indexing
• Hosting provider notices
• Appeal handling if counter-noticed
• Money-back guarantee

Get Started Now →

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Final Word: Reclaim Your Work

Your content is your intellectual property. Stolen work costs you:

• Search traffic
• Credibility
• Revenue (if monetized)
• Peace of mind

For one-off theft, the DMCA process above is fast and often enough. But for endemic plagiarism or coordinated attacks, you need professional infrastructure to fight back at scale.

Start with the free Google DMCA form. If the problem comes back, or if you're drowning in stolen copies across 50+ sites, professional help can take over and ensure your original work stays protected and visible.

Start Your DMCA Takedown →

Learn About Copyright Services →

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Your work deserves protection. We'll help you reclaim it.

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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. DMCA procedures have specific legal requirements, and filing a false DMCA claim can have legal consequences. Fair use and other exceptions may apply. Consult a licensed attorney for copyright matters.