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Guides2 min readUpdated May 12, 2026

What to Do About Copyright Infringement

Found your work used without permission? Document it, send a DMCA takedown, register your copyright, and know your options. A practical step-by-step guide.

Discovering that someone has used your work without permission is frustrating. The good news is that you have real options. The right response depends on the situation, but the steps below apply to most cases.

Step 1: Document everything

Before anything else, capture evidence. Take dated screenshots, save URLs, and record where and how your work is being used. This record matters if the matter escalates.

Step 2: Confirm you own the rights

Make sure you actually hold the copyright and that the use is not authorized or covered by a license or fair use. If you have a registration, gather the details, because it strengthens every step that follows.

Step 3: Send a DMCA takedown notice

For work posted online, the fastest remedy is often a notice under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Most platforms and web hosts have a designated process for reporting infringement and will remove the content when they receive a valid notice. This usually does not require a lawyer.

Step 4: Send a cease and desist if needed

If a takedown is not enough, or the infringement is commercial, a cease and desist letter formally demands that the infringer stop. Many disputes end here.

If you have not registered yet, do it now. You cannot file a copyright infringement lawsuit without a registration. And while registering after an infringement limits some remedies, it is still required to take the matter to court. Registering early, before infringement, is what preserves statutory damages and attorney's fees.

For serious or commercial infringement, consult an attorney about a lawsuit. With a timely registration, you may be eligible for statutory damages up to $150,000 per work plus attorney's fees, which makes litigation realistic. We are a filing service and not a law firm, so for a specific dispute, talk to a qualified intellectual property attorney.

Ready to register? FastCopyrightFiling.com prepares and files your copyright registration with the U.S. Copyright Office, government fees included, and files within 2-3 business days. Start your registration or see pricing.

Frequently asked

Can I sue without registering my copyright?
No. U.S. law requires a registration before you can file a copyright infringement lawsuit in federal court. You can still send a DMCA takedown or cease and desist without registering, but litigation requires registration.
What is a DMCA takedown?
It is a formal notice sent to a platform or web host asking them to remove infringing content. Most online services have a designated process and will act on a valid notice, often without any lawsuit.
Is it too late to register after infringement?
You can still register and sue, but registering after the infringement began (and more than three months after publication) generally limits you to actual damages rather than statutory damages and attorney's fees.

File your copyright the easy way.

We prepare and submit your registration to the U.S. Copyright Office, government fees included, and file within 2-3 business days.

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