Copyright and DMCA: Rights, Notices, and Takedowns

Copyright & DMCA Policy Last Updated: 2 August 2026 (Art Licence Studio is a platform owned by Art Licence Studio Ltd, a UK-registered company. This policy outlines the rights and responsibilities of artists using our service, as well as our procedures for handling copyright infringement claims in compliance with UK law and international standards such as the DMCA.) Artist Responsibilities and Original Content Art Licence Studio is committed to respecting intellectual property rights, and we require the same commitment from our artists. When you upload content to our platform, you retain the copyright to your original work. However, by uploading, you represent and warrant that: Original or Licensed Work: You are the creator of the artwork or you have obtained all necessary rights and licences to use any third-party content included. This means the work is either your own original creation or you have appropriate permission (license, consent, or legal exception) to use any parts that are not originally yours. You must not upload works that infringe on someone else’s copyright or other rights. No Infringement: Your submission does not violate any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary rights of any person or entity. You are responsible for ensuring that what you upload is lawful and does not plagiarise or unlawfully copy someone else’s work. If your work incorporates elements like stock images, samples, or other media created by others, you must have a valid licence or the content must be in the public domain or used under an exception (such as fair dealing/fair use where applicable). Accountability: You understand that you (the artist/uploader) are legally responsible for the content you post. If you post infringing content, you could face legal consequences, and your account may be suspended or terminated for violating this policy. Art Licence Studio disclaims liability for user-uploaded content to the fullest extent of the law; we act as a hosting service, and per UK law and the DMCA we are not responsible for user content provided we respond expeditiously to remove infringing material once notified . By uploading, you also grant Art Licence Studio a limited licence to store, display, and distribute your content on our platform, solely for the purpose of operating the service. This allows us to present your artwork to viewers or potential buyers. You retain full ownership of your works; this policy does not transfer any copyright to us. Transparency in Use of AI Tools and References We require transparency from artists about how their art was created, especially regarding the use of AI tools or reference materials. This ensures honesty with viewers and respect for other creators’ rights: Disclosure of AI Usage: If you use generative artificial intelligence tools (for example, AI image generators or AI-assisted software) in any part of creating your artwork, you must disclose this when you upload the work. Clearly indicate what AI tool was used and how it contributed (e.g., “background textures generated with [Tool Name] AI” or “face created using AI assistance”). This disclosure is important because under current copyright rules, purely AI-generated content may • • • 1 • 1 not qualify for human copyright ownership . We require a human creative contribution for works on our platform, and transparency about AI ensures everyone understands the origins of the content. Failure to disclose significant AI involvement is considered misleading and is a violation of this policy. Referencing and Inspiration: If your work is inspired by, references, or includes elements of other artworks or sources, you must acknowledge those references. For example, if you based your composition on a famous painting, used a photograph as a reference for a figure, or recreated an existing character or style, please mention it in the description (and ensure you have permission if required). Transparency about primary or secondary references (such as reference photos, artworks, or styles you studied) is required. This not only gives credit where due but also helps avoid confusion or claims of plagiarism. Permission and Fair Use: Make sure you have the legal right to use any reference material. If the reference is copyrighted and not your own, you should either have a licence/permission to use it or ensure that your use is sufficiently transformative and lawful. Simply copying another artwork or photo is not allowed. If your creation is a derivative work of someone else’s copyrighted material, you must have the copyright owner’s permission unless an exception in law applies. When in doubt, obtain permission or choose reference materials that are openlicense or public domain. Accuracy and Honesty: Always provide truthful information about the creation process. This includes listing the software or tools used (e.g., digital painting software, AI tools, 3D rendering programs) and any stock assets or templates incorporated. Honesty in this regard builds trust with your audience and with us. Art Licence Studio may ask for additional clarification or proof of rights if we suspect an upload may not be original or properly licensed. Consequence: Content uploaded without required disclosures, or with misleading information about its creation, may be removed. Repeated failures to adhere to these transparency rules can result in account warnings or termination. We prioritise a fair environment where genuinely original creativity is celebrated and properly credited. Copyright Infringement Policy Art Licence Studio will act promptly when notified of alleged copyright infringement in content hosted on our platform. We follow the notice-and-takedown procedure in line with UK law (the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002) and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of the United States. Even though we are based in the UK, our policy is designed to meet international standards so that copyright holders worldwide can trust our platform’s procedures. Key points of our infringement policy: Rights Owner Verification: Before acting on takedown requests, we take steps to verify the legitimacy of the claim: • We verify the claimant's identity and authority to act on behalf of the rights holder • We review the specific content alleged to infringe and compare it to the claimed work • We assess the basis of the ownership claim (e.g., registration, publication date, portfolio) • We do not automatically remove content based on unverified or incomplete claims • We may request additional evidence if a claim appears questionable or incomplete This verification process helps protect artists from fraudulent or malicious takedown requests while ensuring legitimate rights holders can enforce their copyrights effectively. We expeditiously remove or disable access to content that is alleged to infringe copyright, once we receive a valid notification from the rights owner or their authorised agent. We notify the user (artist) who posted the content about the takedown and provide them with a copy of the notice, so they have a chance to respond (see Counter-Notification below). We have a designated Copyright Agent to receive copyright complaints (see the “Designated Agent” section for contact details). This is the official channel for all takedown requests. We terminate repeat infringers when appropriate. Accounts that repeatedly or blatantly infringe copyrights will be suspended or removed from the platform, pursuant to our repeat infringer policy (detailed below) . We also guard against abuse of the takedown process. Submitting false or malicious infringement claims is prohibited: anyone who knowingly misrepresents infringement claims 2 • • • 3 • 1 • • • 4 • 2 may be liable for damages and legal penalties under law . Likewise, users must not repeatedly upload infringing material or file fraudulent counter-notices. The following sections describe in detail how to file a takedown notice and how the counter-notice process works. Filing a Takedown Notice (DMCA Notice of Claimed Infringement) If you believe that any content on Art Licence Studio infringes your copyright (or that of someone you represent), you can send us a takedown notice. For us to process an infringement claim, it must be in writing and include the following information (this is in accordance with 17 U.S.C. §512(c)(3) of the DMCA requirements) : Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed. Describe the original work that you own or manage the rights to. For example, give the title of your artwork, the date created, and any registration number if applicable. If your notice covers multiple works, you can provide a representative list. Identification of the infringing material on our site that you want removed, and information sufficient to locate it. You must provide the URL(s) or specific location on Art Licence Studio where the allegedly infringing content is displayed. Be as precise as possible (for instance, a direct link to the artwork’s page). This allows us to find and remove the content quickly. Your contact information. Provide information reasonably sufficient for us to contact you regarding the notice. This should include your full name (or company name), your mailing address, telephone number, and email address. A statement of good faith belief. Include a statement that you have a good-faith belief that the use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law. In other words, explain that you believe the content is being used unlawfully (e.g., without permission or not under an exception). A statement of accuracy and authority. Include a statement that the information in your notice is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the exclusive right that is allegedly infringed. This means you attest that the complaint is truthful and that you have the legal standing to make the complaint (e.g., you are the artist whose work was copied, or you work for the publisher that owns the rights). Signature. The notice must be signed by the copyright owner or an agent authorized to act on their behalf. If you are sending the notice via email, an electronic signature is acceptable. You can simply type your full legal name at the end of your notice to serve as your signature, or use a scanned physical signature. Please be sure your notice contains all of the above elements. If something is missing, we may not be able to act on your request, as incomplete notices do not meet the legal requirements to trigger the takedown process. Submission: Once you have prepared a notice with the above information, send it to our designated Copyright Agent. We prefer to receive these notices via email for fastest response. You may send the notice to support@artlicencestudio.co.uk. You can also mail it to our business address (if you require a physical address, please email us for the current address of our DMCA Agent in the UK). We will acknowledge receipt of your notice as soon as possible. Our Response: Upon receiving a sufficiently detailed notice, Art Licence Studio will route it through the available copyright process. If the evidence and applicable law require action, we may remove or 4 5 6 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 3 disable access to the content. This draft does not promise a two-business-day or other fixed response time without current operations evidence. Any legal duty to act expeditiously is assessed on the facts. After removing the content, we will send a notification to the user (artist) who posted it, informing them that their content was removed due to a copyright claim. This notification will include instructions on how they can respond (via a counter-notification, described next) if they believe the takedown is mistaken or if they have the right to post the content. Important: Knowingly submitting a false claim of infringement is illegal. If you misrepresent that material on our site is infringing when it is not, you could be liable for any damages (including costs and legal fees) incurred by us or our users due to the improper removal of content . In other words, do not make false claims. We reserve the right to ignore or reject notices that are clearly unfounded, fraudulent, or contain false information. Abuse of the DMCA or our takedown process (for example, trying to take down a competitor’s work with false claims) may also result in your account being suspended or other legal action. Counter-Notification (Restoring Removed Content) If you are an artist/user on Art Licence Studio and you receive a notification that your content was removed due to a copyright claim, and if you believe the removal was mistaken or that you are legally allowed to use the content, you have the right to send us a counter-notice (also known as a counter-notification). A counter-notice is a formal request to restore the content, stating that you dispute the claim of infringement. When to send a counter-notice: You should only submit a counter-notification if you have a goodfaith belief that your content was removed in error – for example, if you believe the content is actually your original work, or you have permission/licence, or the material was misidentified. Do not send a counter-notice if you actually did infringe someone’s copyright; in that case, it’s best to resolve it with the copyright owner or refrain from re-uploading the work. What to include in a counter-notification: To be effective, your counter-notice must be a written communication that includes the following (as required by Section 512(g)(3) of the DMCA) : Identification of the content removed: Describe the material that was removed or disabled, and provide the location (URL) where it appeared before removal. For example, “The artwork titled ‘Sunset Landscape’ that was removed, which was originally located at https:// artlicencestudio.co.uk/gallery/user123/sunset-landscape .” This allows us to know exactly which removal you are contesting. A statement of good faith (mistake or misidentification): Include a statement, under penalty of perjury, that you have a good-faith belief that the material was removed or disabled due to mistake or misidentification. In other words, explain that you believe the takedown was in error – for instance, the content is actually not infringing, or you have authorization that the claimant was unaware of, or the claimant misidentified someone else’s work as yours. Your contact information: Provide your name, address, and telephone number. (If you have an account, we likely have your email, but you can include an email as well.) We need a way to reach you, and this information will also be forwarded to the original complaining party so they can contact you or their legal counsel can, if needed. Consent to jurisdiction: Include a statement that you consent to the jurisdiction of: (a) the Federal District Court for the district where your address is located if you are in the United 1 4 7 8 7. 8. 9. 10. 4 States; or (b) the appropriate court in the United Kingdom (since our service is based in the UK) if you are outside the United States. Additionally, you must state that you will accept service of process from the person (or an agent of that person) who filed the original infringement notice. This means you agree to be contacted and potentially brought to court in the relevant jurisdiction by the complaining party if they decide to pursue a legal action over the dispute. Your signature: You must sign the counter-notice. As with the takedown notice, an electronic signature (typing your full name at the end of the notice) is acceptable if you send it by email. Make sure the name is the same as the account holder or the person authorized to represent the account (e.g., if you’re an agent or attorney for the artist, say so and sign accordingly). You should send the counter-notification to our designated Copyright Agent at support@artlicencestudio.co.uk. We recommend emailing it for speed. Once we receive a counternotice that meets these requirements, here is what happens: Forward to Claimant: We will forward your complete counter-notification to the party who made the original copyright complaint. This lets them know you are disputing the claim and intend to have the content reinstated. It will include your contact information (as provided in the counter-notice) so that the complaining party can review it and, if necessary, take further legal action. Waiting and restoration: A qualifying counter-notice may be forwarded to the claimant. Any waiting period, court-action check, restoration decision and notice will follow the law that applies to the specific service, parties and claim. This UK launch draft does not promise a fixed US DMCA response or restoration deadline before final solicitor and operations review. If the complainant does provide notice within the waiting period that they have filed a court action seeking to restrain you from using the content, we will not restore the content. At that point, the matter will need to be resolved by the courts. We will likely keep the content disabled unless and until there is a resolution (e.g. a retraction by the complainant or a court order allowing re-posting). We’ll let you know if this happens. Please note: Filing a counter-notice has legal implications. The statements you make in a counternotification are made under penalty of perjury – which means they must be truthful. Do not send a counter-notice if you know you do not have the rights to the content. If you’re unsure, it may be wise to consult a legal advisor. Misusing the counter-notice process (for example, filing a false counternotice to get infringing content reinstated) can have legal consequences similar to filing false takedown notices. Also, when you file a counter-notice, you are agreeing to jurisdiction as noted above, which could mean having to defend your case in court in the complainant’s country or in ours. Designated Copyright Agent Art Licence Studio has designated the following agent to receive notifications of claimed infringement (takedown notices) under the DMCA and other applicable laws: 11. • • 9 10 • 9 10 • 5 Designated Copyright Agent: Email: support@artlicencestudio.co.uk (This email is monitored for copyright-related requests. If you have any questions about this policy or need to report an issue, please contact us at this address. For non-copyright matters, please use our general support channels.) We prefer email communication for speed and clarity. If you need a physical mailing address for our agent, you may request it via email; however, please note that email will result in the fastest handling of your notice. Repeat Infringement Policy In accordance with the DMCA and our own platform rules, Art Licence Studio enforces a repeat infringer policy . This means that if a user repeatedly violates copyright laws by uploading infringing content, we will take further action to prevent ongoing abuse. Specifically: Tracking Violations: We keep track of valid copyright complaints (takedown notices) against each user’s content. If we receive multiple infringement claims against you that are confirmed (e.g., you did not submit a counter-notice, or your counter-notices were rejected or the complainant obtained a court order), these will count as “strikes” on your account. Threshold for Termination: Users who are found to be repeat infringers will have their accounts terminated. While the law (DMCA) does not specify an exact number, a common industry standard is three strikes – if you receive three valid copyright takedown notices, your account is subject to termination. However, Art Licence Studio reserves the right to terminate an account with fewer than three strikes in appropriate circumstances (for example, if you blatantly pirate someone else’s work, or if you ignore our warnings). We may also give warnings or suspensions for first or second offenses, but by the third offense your account will likely be removed. Notification and Appeal: We will notify you if your account is in danger of termination due to repeated claims. You will generally be given a chance to respond or explain, especially if you believe some notices were in error. (Counter-notices can be used if applicable, as described above.) However, if the notices are valid and you’ve repeatedly uploaded infringing material, we are required by law to act. We cannot continue to provide a platform to users who consistently violate others’ copyrights. Post-Termination: If your account is terminated under this policy, you are prohibited from creating a new account to continue using the service. We may also block your content from being re-uploaded by others (“notice and stay-down” measures) if we become aware of attempts to evade the takedown by simply re-posting the same material. Users who have had accounts terminated for infringement will be barred from future participation, to protect the community and rights holders. This repeat infringer policy is part of our compliance with safe harbour provisions of copyright law, and it’s also about basic fairness and respect among the art community. 4 • • • • 6 Prevention of Abuse Art Licence Studio is committed to preventing abuse of our copyright policy and takedown system: False Claims: As noted, anyone who sends fraudulent or bad-faith takedown notices (or counternotices) is breaking the law. 17 U.S.C. §512(f) provides that misrepresentations in a takedown notice or counter-notice can make the sender liable for damages . We take this seriously. If we suspect a notice is intentionally false or malicious, we may refuse to honor it and will inform the claimant of the law. Likewise, if a user submits a false counter-notification, we will treat that as a violation. We reserve the right to ban users who knowingly abuse the DMCA process or our copyright complaint system. Review limits: Automated tools may help organise notices and identify target content, but Studio Mentor has no takedown authority. This draft does not claim that every notice or counter-notice is manually reviewed. The final review, escalation and appeal process remains part of the separate online-safety and operations launch gate. Content Verification: We also use proactive measures to discourage infringement. This can include using reverse image searches or other tools on suspicious uploads (for example, if an artist with no prior history suddenly uploads something that matches a famous artist’s work). We might ask the uploader for proof of ownership or additional details about how a work was created, especially if it seems to closely reference existing popular art. This ties in with our AI and reference disclosure rules: being transparent up front can help avoid your work being mistakenly flagged. Education and Support: We aim to educate our community about copyright. Our platform provides guidance to users during upload (e.g., reminders to only upload original or licensed works, checkboxes to confirm you have rights, fields to credit references, etc.). If you’re unsure about whether something is okay to upload, we encourage you to contact us before uploading, or consult resources about copyright for artists. We would much rather prevent infringement in the first place than have to take content down after the fact. We want Art Licence Studio to be a place where artists can confidently share their original creations and where art lovers can enjoy content without worrying about legal issues. By following these policies, you help us maintain a safe and lawful platform for everyone. Use of Automated Tools and AI (including "Studio Mentor") Where an automated security or moderation signal, or the entitled Studio Mentor private beta, is explicitly enabled, it may help organise artwork, text descriptions, profile information, reports, or metadata to: - detect potential copyright infringement or plagiarism; - identify content that may violate our terms (for example: adult content, hateful or harassing material, or other illegal content); and - assist our team in prioritising and reviewing cases. One of these systems is our internal AI assistant, Studio Mentor, which can provide educational guidance to artists and help our staff summarise information and draft communications. Studio Mentor does not provide legal advice and does not make binding legal or moderation decisions. This draft does not claim that every copyright or account action is manually reviewed. Automated tools may flag or pre-screen content and help locate potentially relevant material. The available legal and operational process—not an AI assistant—determines any action. Final evidence for staffing, review routes and appeals is still required before launch. Illegal-content detection, preservation, removal and reporting—including any child sexual abuse material duty—belongs to the separate online-safety launch gate. This draft does not claim a particular detection tool, registration, reporting workflow or completed compliance process. We may update or improve our automated and AI-based tools over time. Any such changes will continue to operate within the boundaries of this policy, our Moderation & Appeals Policy, and applicable law. Compliance with UK and International Law This policy is designed to ensure compliance with UK copyright law as well as incorporate the widely recognized practices of the DMCA for international consistency. In the UK, the primary legislation governing copyright is the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, which protects original artistic works automatically from the moment of creation. Additionally, as a service provider, we follow the UK Electronic Commerce Regulations 2002 that implement the EU E-Commerce Directive, requiring us to act expeditiously upon obtaining knowledge of infringing content . Our notice-and-takedown and repeat infringer procedures are part of these compliance efforts. We recognize that many of our users and copyright holders may be from outside the UK. The DMCA (a U.S. law) has become a sort of international standard for online service providers dealing with copyright claims, and we voluntarily abide by its key principles (such as the structured notice and counter-notice process) to accommodate users globally. In case of any conflicts between applicable laws, we will adhere to the laws and legal obligations relevant to our jurisdiction (UK) while aiming to honor the spirit of international norms like the DMCA. • 11 12 • • • 3 7 Keep in mind that copyright laws can vary by country. If you are asserting rights or sending a counternotice, you should be aware of how jurisdiction might affect your case. Our platform’s terms of service specify which law governs our agreement (generally UK law), but copyright itself is territorial. We strive to harmonize our policy with global standards so that no matter where you’re from, you find our process fair and clear. Changes to This Policy We may update or modify this Copyright & DMCA Policy from time to time, for example to reflect changes in the law or changes in our platform practices. If we make significant changes, we will notify our users by email or by posting a notice on the site. However, it is ultimately your responsibility to review this policy periodically. The “Last Updated” date at the top indicates when the latest changes were made. Continuing to use Art Licence Studio after an update means you accept the revised policy. If you have any questions about this policy or need further clarification, please contact us at support@artlicencestudio.co.uk. We are here to help artists understand their rights and obligations. Thank you for contributing to a community that respects creativity and the laws that protect it.