How to File a DMCA Takedown on Substack
Substack has made it easy to launch a paid newsletter, and just as easy for someone to fill one with your articles, research, or photography and charge subscribers for it. Substack's Copyright Dispute Policy is built around the DMCA notice-and-takedown process, and it removes or disables infringing material when it receives a compliant notice. Here is how to file one properly.
Before you start
- Proof of ownership, your original article, images, or research, and a link to where it was first published.
- The exact URL of every infringing post, not just the newsletter's homepage. If the copying appears across many posts, list each one.
- Your contact details, name, email, and ideally a mailing address and phone number.
- A copy of the infringing post as evidence, screenshots or the email version, in case the writer edits or deletes it once your notice arrives.
Step 1: Open Substack's Copyright Dispute Policy
Go to substack.com/dispute. This page is the official home of Substack's DMCA process, and it links to the copyright report form on Substack's support portal. Substack states plainly that using the form is the fastest route, because it ensures your notice contains everything the law requires.
Step 2: Identify your original work
Describe what was copied and point to the original, "my article published on [date] at [URL]", and be specific about how much was taken: the full piece, long verbatim passages, your charts, or your photographs. If the copier lightly reworded your text, mention the matching structure and passages so the reviewer can compare fairly.
Step 3: List the infringing Substack posts
Paste the full URL of each infringing post. Substack posts also go out by email, but the takedown targets the hosted content, so it is the substack.com (or custom domain) links that matter. If the newsletter has systematically republished your work, say so, it is relevant to Substack's repeat infringer policy.
Step 4: Complete the legal statements
Whether you use the form or write your own notice, include: your contact information, identification of your work and the infringing material, a statement of good-faith belief that the use is unauthorized, a statement that your notice is accurate, and your signature attesting, under penalty of perjury, that you are the owner or authorized to act for them. Substack warns that false notices can create real legal liability, so stick to facts.
Step 5: Submit through the form, email, or mail
Submit the form for the fastest handling. Alternatively, email your complete notice to [email protected], or mail it to Substack DMCA Processing, 548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104. Keep a copy of everything, including the date you sent it.
What happens after you file
On receipt of a compliant notice, Substack's practice is to expeditiously remove or disable the material identified as infringing, and the writer is notified. The writer can respond with a DMCA counter-notification arguing the use was authorized or fair; if that happens, the material may eventually be restored unless you escalate, typically by filing a court action. Writers who rack up repeated valid notices fall under Substack's repeat infringer policy and can lose their publication.
Content thieves rarely stop at one platform, the same scraped articles often show up on Medium clones, aggregator blogs, and social accounts. If you would rather not spend your writing time policing them, Rulta offers a done-for-you takedown service that monitors for stolen content and files DMCA notices across platforms on your behalf.
This guide is educational information, not legal advice.
Need the notice text?Generate a complete DMCA notice for Substack — free, one minute
Exhibit A — official takedown formhttps://substack.com/dispute
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to file a copyright complaint with Substack?
The copyright report form linked from Substack's Copyright Dispute Policy. Substack says submitting through its forms helps ensure your notice is legally compliant and gets the fastest possible response.
Is there an email or mailing address for Substack DMCA notices?
Yes. You can email [email protected] or mail Substack DMCA Processing, 548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104.
Can I file against a paywalled Substack post?
Yes. Include the post's URL and describe the copied material as precisely as you can. If you received the post by email or subscribed to verify the copying, keep those copies as evidence.
Can the newsletter author fight my takedown?
Yes. Under the DMCA the author can send a counter-notification explaining why they believe the use is not infringing, which can lead to the content being restored unless you take further legal action.
Does Substack do anything about writers who repeatedly steal content?
Yes. Substack maintains a copyright repeat infringer policy, and accounts that attract repeated valid infringement notices risk losing access to the platform.