How to File a DMCA Takedown on Scribd
Scribd's document library is a magnet for pirated ebooks, course materials, and paid PDFs, authors routinely find their entire books uploaded for anyone to read. The good news is that Scribd runs one of the more responsive copyright programs around, with a dedicated reporting page, an automated assistant, and a fingerprinting system that blocks re-uploads. Here is how to use it.
Before you start
- Proof you own the work, the original manuscript or file, publication details, and where it is legitimately sold or published.
- A direct URL to every infringing document. Scribd requires links to the documents themselves, search results or category listings will not be accepted.
- Your legal name and at least two ways to contact you, such as email plus a phone number or mailing address.
- Confirmation that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act for the owner, Scribd discourages third-party reports.
Step 1: Find every copy of your work on Scribd
Search Scribd for your title, your pen name, and phrases from your text, pirates often retitle uploads to dodge detection. Open each infringing document and copy its exact URL. One notification can cover as many links as you need, so be thorough now rather than filing repeatedly.
Step 2: Open Scribd's copyright reporting page
Go to the Help Center article titled Report Copyright Infringements and Abuse HERE (linked from Scribd's copyright pages). It offers two immediate routes, an automated reporting assistant that walks you through a chat, and a reporting form. Both capture everything Scribd legally needs and notify their team immediately, so pick whichever you find easier.
Step 3: Identify yourself and your work
Provide your legal name, your contact methods, and a statement that you are the copyright owner or the owner's authorized representative. Then identify the work that was copied, title, author, and where the original lives, so the reviewer can compare it against the uploads you are reporting.
Step 4: Paste the infringing document links
Add the direct URL for every document you found in Step 1. This is where most reports fail, a link to a search page or an uploader's profile is not specific enough. Scribd removes exactly what you point to.
Step 5: Complete the legal statements and submit
Confirm your good-faith belief that the use is unauthorized, that your notification is accurate, and, under penalty of perjury, that you are the owner or authorized to act for them. Submit and save your confirmation. If you cannot use the form or assistant, email a complete notice to [email protected]; Scribd publishes DMCA email templates in the same Help Center section.
Step 6: Note your reference details
Keep the submission date, the list of URLs, and any ticket or confirmation email. If a document is still live after several business days, reply to the confirmation or re-file with the same details.
What happens after you file
Valid notifications are typically processed within about two business days. Removed books can also be fingerprinted by BookID, Scribd's automated copyright protection system, which helps block the same file from being uploaded again, worth asking about if your book keeps coming back. The uploader can file a counter-notice, in which case Scribd follows the standard DMCA restore process unless you pursue the matter in court.
Pirated books rarely live on just one site, though. If your title is also floating around forums, file lockers, and other document sites, a managed takedown service like Rulta can find the copies and file the notices for you while you keep writing.
This guide is educational information, not legal advice.
Need the notice text?Generate a complete DMCA notice for Scribd — free, one minute
Exhibit A — official takedown formhttps://support.scribd.com/hc/en-us/articles/210129146-Report-Copyright-Infringements-and-Abuse-HERE
Frequently asked questions
How long does Scribd take to remove infringing documents?
Valid, complete notifications are typically processed within about two business days, and Scribd says it promptly removes infringing content once a proper DMCA notice arrives.
What links does Scribd need in my report?
A direct URL to each infringing document you want removed. Links to search results or general listings are not enough, but you can include as many document links as necessary in one notification.
Can I report a pirated book on Scribd if I am not the author?
Only the copyright owner or someone authorized to act on the owner's behalf may file. If you simply spotted piracy, the most helpful move is to alert the rights holder so they can file.
What is BookID and how does it help me?
BookID is Scribd's automated copyright protection system. It fingerprints protected works so that copies can be blocked from being uploaded again, which reduces the whack-a-mole problem after a takedown.
Is there an email address for DMCA notices to Scribd?
Yes. If you cannot use the reporting form or the automated assistant, you can email a completed DMCA notice to [email protected]. Scribd's Help Center provides email templates.