Intellectual Property and Takedown Procedure (DMCA)

Our principle

Every member must hold the rights or permission for the media they publish. We respect intellectual property and handle takedown requests under the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and equivalent laws elsewhere.

Protecting your images

To be honest: a watermark slows copying down but does not prevent it. That is why we combine several layers of protection with a fast takedown process. We do not block right-click: it does not work and it harms accessibility.

• Optional watermark on your media.
• Delivery at limited resolution.
• Copyright metadata embedded in files.
• Rights notice on your media.

Requesting a takedown

Use the takedown form available from the media item's report button, or write to [email protected]. Your request must include:

• Your full contact details.
• Identification of the protected work.
• The exact link to the content to be removed on Castalio.
• A good-faith statement that the use is not authorised by the rights holder or by law.
• A statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information is accurate and that you are the rights holder or authorised to act on their behalf.
• Your physical or electronic signature.

What happens next

If the request is complete, the content is removed or disabled and the member concerned is notified, with a copy of the request (your contact details may be shared to the extent the procedure requires).

Counter-notice

If you believe content was removed by mistake, you can send a counter-notice to [email protected] containing: your contact details, identification of the removed content and where it appeared, a statement under penalty of perjury that it was removed as a result of mistake or misidentification, your consent to the jurisdiction of the applicable court, and your signature.

The counter-notice is forwarded to the person who filed the original request. If they do not start legal proceedings within the period set by law, the content may be restored.

Repeat infringers

Accounts that receive repeated valid complaints are suspended, then closed. Abusive or bad-faith requests may also lead to sanctions.