Occasionally we see confusion and impatience, in Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken, about previously submitted DMCA complaints.I have repeatedly submitted a complaint about "offendingblog.blogspot.com" - and nothing is done! How long must I wait, for results??
We should start by noting that Google staff attention cannot ever be promised immediately - but if a valid complaint is submitted, repeatedly, with no results, maybe the problem is in the presentation of the complaint.
Blogger Policy Enforcement staff advises us that a DMCA complaint, when submitted, needs to include precise and specific examples of the perceived problem. Each example should be described in two parts.
- A precise example of some content, in your blog, that was copied.
- A precise example of some content, in the offending blog / website, which matches #1.
Instead of guessing or combing through your blog, then through the offending blog / website, and searching for matching content, the Blogger analysts time is better spent taking your complaint and submitting the complaint to Lumen (pka "ChillingEffects").
You know how you have been offended - so tell Blogger exactly how you have been offended, in the DMCA Complaint which you submit.
As always, do not submit frivolous DMCA complaints - your bank account may require discretion.
And be careful to use the right complaint procedure. DMCA Complaints are for very specific and genuine copyright violations. Other offenses must be reported, using different procedures.
Every day, in Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken, we see the complaintI've been reporting this abuse to Google for a week, and I have yet to see a reply - or a result. What is up with that?
This is possibly somebody who does not know what abuse category to use - or who maybe can't find the right category.
Over a year ago, we learned the difference between Defamation and Impersonation.- Defamation (ridicule, slander, trash talk) is a civil offense, and requires that you hire a lawyer.
- Impersonation (identity theft) is a TOS offense, and can result in termination of an offending blog.
Impersonation is one of eight categories, each well defined. When you report a serious offense, that can have legal consequences - such as Impersonation, which can result in Google terminating an offending blog - your report has to be carefully scrutinised by Google Legal.
Similarly, if you report a blog for publishing private information, the nature of the reported "private" information will be verified. DMCA complaints are handled outside Google - and must be reported with absolute precision, and attention to detail.
If you report one category, because "it was the closest choice that I could find", and Google Legal finds no cause for action, your report gets ignored. If you report the same problem repeatedly, you may go onto a list that you don't want to be on.
The bottom line here - if you have a problem, make sure that your problem fits the chosen category, accurately. Don't just guess, here - you won't get anything out of the experience, except frustration.
