Takedown

A takedown is the removal of content from a website or platform after an authorized party has notified the operator of a legal infringement. In the adult industry, this usually concerns leaked scenes, pirated copies of paid content, or recordings published without consent.

Why platforms must respond

Providers that store third-party content are not automatically liable in the EU for every upload. However, they must take action as soon as they become aware of illegal content. The European law on digital services, the Digital Services Act, also requires hosting providers to maintain easily accessible reporting channels and process reports. A takedown is therefore not a favor, but a regulated procedure.

Who can submit a report

This is the point that surprises performers most often. In the case of a pirated copy of a professional scene, the copyright usually belongs to the production because you granted it those rights contractually. The strongest report therefore comes from the production. Reputable productions pursue copies of their material themselves or through commissioned service providers.

Regardless of this, you can rely on your right to one’s own image and your personality rights, especially if the material should never have been published. You are in any case the rights holder of your own content, such as content from your fan platform. For providers based in the USA, the report often proceeds via a DMCA complaint.

A report step by step

1. Secure the source: page address, screenshot, date, and time.
2. Find the operator’s reporting channel, usually a form for legal infringements or an abuse address.
3. Describe the content precisely and explain which right has been infringed.
4. Wait for confirmation and check after a few days whether the content has actually been removed.
5. After successful removal, ask search engines to delete the outdated results.

What the procedure does and does not accomplish

A takedown removes one copy from one location. It does not prevent the same file from being uploaded elsewhere shortly afterward. When material is widely distributed, this becomes an ongoing task for which specialized service providers take over monitoring and reporting for a fee. Some platforms also work with digital fingerprints that automatically block renewed uploads of previously identified material.

If you are being blackmailed or threatened at the same time, you should not rely on reports alone. What to do first in this situation is described in the article Leaks and blackmail: how to respond correctly right away.

Mistakes you should avoid

Only report content over which you can actually assert a right, and be precise in your statements. In the case of professional scenes, first ask the production whether it is pursuing copies itself. Also check which personal details the form requires, because some reports are forwarded to the uploader. In persistent cases and when material is online against your will, legal assistance is advisable; this entry does not replace it.