How to submit DMCA takedowns on social media like a brand protection expert

DMCA takedowns aren’t one-size-fits-all, especially across social media.

Every platform has its own process, timelines vary, and response times are unpredictable. Meanwhile, fraudulent ads, fake profiles, and unauthorized uses of your brand stay live, hurting your reputation and cutting into revenue.

Worse yet, if you’re dealing with a high volume of infringements, manual takedowns can become a full-time job.

At Red Points, we’ve helped brands remove millions of infringing posts across 5,000+ platforms. That experience has taught us what actually works—and where most brands get stuck.

You’ll learn how to: 

• Remove damaging infringements on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter).
• Navigate platform-specific takedown procedures with confidence.
• Use proven strategies to protect your brand at scale, without the hassle. 

How to submit a DMCA takedown notice on major social media platforms

You can file a DMCA directly with the infringer, but getting their contact info may prove tricky. There’s also no guarantee they’ll respond.

The most efficient way to get infringements removed on social media is to go through the process of the platform where it’s taking place. 

The social media takedown process varies slightly for each platform, so use the guides below to find the correct form and steps to complete. 

Instagram and Facebook

Since both platforms are owned by Meta, the DMCA reporting process is nearly identical, though there are separate forms for each. 

Where to file : 

• Use this form to file on Facebook.
• Use this form to file on Instagram. 

Steps to submit: 

1. Specify the infringement and provide your contact information. 

2. Provide URLs to the infringing post/content

3. Provide proof of ownership via links, copyright registration, or other original content details. 

4. Sign and submit. 

Processing time: 

Facebook and Instagram reports are typically reviewed within 24-72 hours, though complex cases may take longer.

YouTube

YouTube offers both manual DMCA takedowns and Content ID, an automated system that flags unauthorized content for brands dealing with frequent infringements. 

Where to file: 

• YouTube Copyright Complaint form: use this form if you don’t have a Content ID account and need to report an infringement. 

• Content ID: for large-scale, automated enforcement (available to approved rights holders) 

Steps to Submit: 

1. Add URLs and timestamps of the infringing videos, along with links to your original content.

2. Provide your contact information. 

3. Choose the removal option (7-day notice or immediate) and select ‘Prevent future copies’ to block re-uploads.

4. Sign and submit. 

Processing time: 

YouTube typically processes copyright claims within 48 hours.  

TikTok

TikTok’s DMCA process requires detailed evidence of ownership and proof of prior takedown attempts when filing against repeat offenders. You’ll also need to use different forms to report infringements on sponsored vs. non-sponsored content. 

Where to file: 

• Use this form to report non-sponsored content.
• Use this form to report sponsored content or advertisements.

Steps to file: 

1. Select the type of infringement you are reporting.

2. Provide your contact information. 

3. Specify the type of copyrighted work you are reporting.
   1. Video, original music, non-music audio, photo-picture, logo, or other

4. Provide proof of IP ownership. 

5. Enter URLs of the video/content you are reporting.

6. Upload additional materials to support your case.
   1. Screenshots, timestamps, URLs, etc. 

7. Select ‘Prevent future copies’ to automatically block re-uploads of the content. 

8. Sign and submit. 

Processing time: 

TikTok typically reviews takedown requests within 3-5 days, but manual reports may take longer.

X

Where to submit: 

Use the X DMCA form, which can be found via the Help Center. 

Steps to Submit: 

1. Select the specific issue you are reporting. 

2. Verify you are the rights owner or representative and provide contact info.

3. Provide URLs of the infringing content and your original post or content. 

4. Submit additional proof of copyright ownership. 

5. Sign and submit.

Processing time: 

X typically reviews DMCA forms within three days. 

Once you’ve submitted a DMCA notice on the relevant platform, the waiting game begins. While processing times vary, the next steps are fairly consistent across platforms. Here’s what to expect after filing.

What happens after filing?

After submitting your DMCA takedown, the platform will review your claim and take action if it meets their criteria. Here’s what typically happens next, and how to follow up effectively. 

DMCA approval or rejection 

• If your DMCA takedown is approved, the infringing content will be removed. The infringer may also get a warning, account suspension, or removal, depending on the severity and number of occurrences. 

• If your takedown is rejected, the infringement will remain active on the platform. 

What to do if your DMCA is rejected

You may not receive a reason for the rejection, but inaccurate or insufficient information is usually the culprit. 

• Review and revise your report carefully. Ensure all details are accurate, including URLs, timestamps, and ownership proof. 

• Resubmit the takedown with the corrected information. 

• If rejected again, escalate your complaint by reaching out through platform support channels or legal departments, if available. 

Takedown disputes

Even after successful infringement removal, the infringer can file a dispute (also called a counter-notice). If the platform approves it, the content may be reinstated. 

If this occurs: 

• Immediately re-submit a takedown report with additional evidence. 

• Contact the platform directly if you received a case ID or support contact during your initial filing. 

• Track the infringer’s activity in case they attempt to re-upload the content. 

If you don’t hear back 

If the platform is slow to respond: 

• Check your spam/junk folder for platform emails—you may have missed a response. 

• Submit another takedown report with any additional information or evidence you can provide. 

• Follow up through platform support channels or any contact provided during the filing process. 

• Log your takedown attempts (including submission dates and case IDs) for reference in future filings. 

Monitor for future infringement 

Infringers often re-upload content or create new accounts to avoid detection while continuing to profit from your brand. To stay protected: 

• Monitor accounts that have infringed on your brand in the past to ensure they do not re-upload content you’ve already removed. 

• Set up Google Alerts with your brand name and key content identifiers to catch future violations. 

• File bulk DMCA reports if you encounter widespread infringement on the same platform. 

• Use monitoring tools like Red Points to automate infringement detection.

How to streamline your DMCA takedown process on social media

Protecting your brand on social media can be frustrating and time-consuming. Especially when it takes hours to report a single infringement, and days to even weeks for platforms to take it down. 

When you’re dealing with multiple violations across different platforms, manual reporting just isn’t sustainable. That’s where automated brand protection tools like Red Points come in. 

Red Points offers superior AI-powered protection and saves you time while keeping your brand protected. Here’s how: 

Real-time monitoring and detection:

It’s nearly impossible to catch every infringement targeting your brand on social media, websites, and online marketplaces. Red Points’ software scans social media (and 5,000+ platforms) 24/7, identifying unauthorized content the moment it appears. This means you can take action right away, before it does serious damage. 

Faster, automated takedown requests:

Manually filing takedowns wastes time and increases the risk of errors. Red Points streamlines and protects the entire process by automatically starting the DMCA filing process when social media infringement is detected. You’ll get faster, more consistent enforcement without the manual hassle. 

Platform-specific expertise:

Every social platform has its own takedown process, and it’s easy to make mistakes that lead to rejections. Red Points knows the ins and outs of each platform and tailors every takedown for maximum effectiveness and faster approvals. 

In fact, our expertise has allowed us to reduce takedown approval times for our clients by nearly 50% on most platforms. 

Scales with your needs:

Whether you’re dealing with a handful of infringements or hundreds, Red Points can handle it all at once. Our bulk reporting capabilities help you stay on top of large-scale violations without any extra hassle. As your business grows, your brand protection grows with you. 

More than just takedowns 

DMCA takedowns are just one part of brand protection on social media. Red Points offers comprehensive brand protection services all across the web, from proactive monitoring and automated enforcement to revenue recovery and so much more. 

What’s next

Taking down copyright infringements on social media is vital to protecting your brand, but the process is nothing short of frustrating. With inconsistent takedown procedures across platforms, you can easily waste hours filing reports, only for scammers to reappear and keep profiting off your IP. 

That’s why smart, scalable enforcement matters more than ever, especially as counterfeiters get faster and more sophisticated. 

At Red Points, we’ve helped over 1,300 brands navigate these challenges with automated tools built to detect and remove infringements across 5,000+ platforms.  

Request a demo today and discover a faster, smarter way to safeguard your brand on social media and beyond.