A copyright complaint or a copied work: what to do first

I received a copyright complaint

Save the full message or notice, attachments, sender details, and the date and method of delivery. Capture the post, listing, file, or video being challenged and the context in which it appeared. Find the agreement, licence, receipt, permission email, or original project files you relied on. Check whether any permission covers the actual use, including where it appeared, how long it ran, and whether it was used commercially.

Someone is using my work without permission

Capture the full page or listing, exact URLs, account names, dates, and copies of the material as it appears. Gather your original files and dated drafts, plus any contracts or licences that show which rights you hold. If the work was made for an employer, commissioned, or made with collaborators, check who can authorize the particular use. Decide what you want to achieve: removal, attribution, a licence, compensation, or an end to further use.

Identify what you received

A notice forwarded by an internet provider under Canada’s Notice and Notice regime reports an allegation. It is not a court ruling or a lawsuit, and the regime itself does not require a subscriber to reply or pay. A platform takedown or account strike has a separate process: check the platform’s own rules and dates before responding. If you received a direct demand, record what it asks for and by when. If you were served with court papers, seek prompt legal advice about the applicable response deadline.

Check the use before taking a position

Compare what was used with the original and note exactly what was copied, posted, or distributed. A public link, attribution, or a lack of profit does not by itself authorize a use. Fair dealing can apply to certain purposes under Canadian law, but the dealing must also be fair in the circumstances. Preserve the records before changing the post or listing. If you are considering a takedown or counter-notice, check the platform’s requirements and what you would be declaring before submitting it.

Official references

• Copyright Act: infringement (section 27)
• Copyright Act: fair dealing (section 29)
• Canadian Intellectual Property Office: copyright infringement
• Government of Canada: notices to Canadian internet subscribers