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How to File a DMCA Takedown on Snapchat

Snapchat's disappearing-content design doesn't stop content theft, Spotlight videos, public Stories, and public profiles give reposted work a lasting audience, and your videos or photos can rack up views under someone else's username. Snap accepts copyright reports through a webform on its support site, restricted to rights owners and their authorized representatives. Because much of Snapchat is ephemeral, speed and evidence matter more here than on most platforms.

Before you start

  • Proof of ownership, your original files or a link to where the work first appeared (your own Snapchat, another platform, or your website).
  • The infringer's exact username and links to the infringing content, Spotlight videos and public Stories have shareable links.
  • Screenshots of the infringing content with the username and date visible, in case it expires before review.
  • Your contact details, and whether you're the copyright owner or an authorized representative.

Step 1: Preserve the evidence before it disappears

Stories expire and Snaps vanish, so document everything the moment you find it. Take screenshots or a screen recording that clearly shows the content, the poster's username, and the date. For Spotlight videos and public Stories, tap the share arrow and copy the link. Note where in the app the content lives, Spotlight, a public Story, or a public profile, since you'll need to describe that in the report.

Step 2: Open Snapchat's copyright report page

Go to Snapchat's support site and open the article "About Copyright Infringement on Snapchat" (linked above). It explains the policy and links to the Report Copyright Infringement webform. Note the restriction stated on the form: only the copyright owner or an authorized representative may use it.

Step 3: Fill in your contact and ownership details

Provide your full name and a monitored email address, and state whether you're the rights owner or filing as an authorized representative. Representatives should be prepared to show evidence of authorization if Snap's team asks.

Step 4: Identify the stolen work and where it lives on Snapchat

Describe your original work and where it was first published, then point Snap at the infringement: the exact username, the links you copied, and which surface it's on (Spotlight, Story, or profile). If the thief cropped your watermark or trimmed the clip, mention it, it helps the reviewer match the repost to your original.

Step 5: Sign the statements and submit

Complete the standard DMCA declarations, a good-faith belief that the use is unauthorized, and a statement under penalty of perjury that your information is accurate and you're authorized to file. Type your full name as your signature, submit, and save the confirmation email for your records.

What happens after you file

Snap's team reviews the report and removes content that infringes, and the poster is notified. If the poster believes the removal was a mistake, they can submit a counter-notification asking Snap to reinstate the content, so hold on to your ownership evidence. Repeat infringers risk losing their accounts. Because Snapchat content expires quickly, some reports close simply because the content is already gone; that's still worth doing when the same account reposts you repeatedly, since it builds the record. If stolen content keeps surfacing across Snapchat and other platforms faster than you can file, a done-for-you takedown service like Rulta monitors for reposts and files the notices on your behalf.

This guide is educational information, not legal advice.

Need the notice text?Generate a complete DMCA notice for Snapchat — free, one minute

Exhibit A — official takedown formhttps://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012315652500-About-Copyright-Infringement-on-Snapchat

Frequently asked questions

Can anyone report copyright infringement on Snapchat?

No. Snapchat's copyright webform may only be used by the copyright owner or an authorized representative acting on the owner's behalf. Fans or followers can't file for you.

The stolen Snap already disappeared, can I still report it?

You can, but reports are far more effective while the content is live. Screenshot everything with the username and date visible as soon as you spot a repost, and report quickly.

How do I get a link to a Spotlight video or public Story?

Tap the share arrow on the video or Story and choose the copy-link option. Include that link in your report along with the poster's exact username.

Can the person I report get the content restored?

Yes. Snapchat has a documented counter-notification process, which is a legal request to reinstate content removed after a copyright report. If that happens, keep your ownership evidence ready.

What does Snapchat do to repeat offenders?

Accounts that repeatedly post infringing content can face termination, so it's worth reporting every incident even if the same user keeps coming back.