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False DMCA takedown requests have always been a problem, and have massively surged in the last few years when more of the general public figured out the mechani

by paxys 10mo ago

False DMCA takedown requests have always been a problem, and have massively surged in the last few years when more of the general public figured out the mechanics and started treating it as a big downvote button for the internet. This is also being done adversarially at a large scale, for example to suppress websites or YouTube videos containing certain viewpoints or to remove competition. So regardless of how Google has treated these requests in the past, they are absolutely right to want to verify that you actually are the content owner before taking further action. As for how to do it - I don't see why it is hard for you to come up with something that proves ownership. Do your books have a publisher? Do you have a contract with the publisher? Or just a letter from someone at the firm confirming your work? Have you registered the work with the copyright office? Do you have proof of publishing on online portals? You aren't helping yourself or anyone else by anthropomorphising Google. It is not your friend who can "break your heart", or a "trustworthy helper on the Web", or a "trusted ally", but a large bureaucratic corporation. Treat it like the machine it is and you will get the results you want.

bigstrat2003 10mo ago
> As for how to do it - I don't see why it is hard for you to come up with something that proves ownership. It is pretty hard to come up with proof of ownership when Google refuses to tell you what forms of proof they will find acceptable. When I go to the DMV and need to prove my residence, the DMV clearly states what forms are acceptable proof. Google should do the same, especially when they are asked what forms of proof are acceptable. Instead they gave this guy the runaround and ignored his question on how to prove ownership.
- paxys 10mo ago
  There is no passport or social security number or mailing address for the internet. Google can't tell you a definite proof they will accept because none exists, especially since copyright can be claimed on something as trivial as a line of text or a certain combination of bytes. It'll always be a judgement call on Google's part, and such a system will never be 100% accurate in either direction. If you want immediate and effective results then pay a lawyer.
- ajaimk 10mo ago
  A photo of the copy right page and your ID seems like just commons sense
- sib 10mo ago
  I guess you've never been to the California DMV? I needed to get my "Real ID" driver license (when I was newly moved to CA). I first went to their official website and printed out the page listing the various types of ID required (n1 from column A, n2 from column B type of thing.) I then gathered n1+1 items from column A and n2+1 items from column B. Headed over to the DMV office in West LA. Stood in two lines (one outside, one indoors) for more than 4 hours. Eventually got to the desk to verify that I had the correct ID types so that I could get a number in order to wait to be called up to another line where I would actually hand in my documents. Friendly gentleman with the SEIU sticker on his shirt says "this ID is not sufficient." I show him the printout of their website, indicating all the items matching (exceeding) the requirements. He says "I don't care." I ask to speak to the supervisor. He says, "supervisor's not here" and proceeds to stare at me. I eventually left and went to a different office. Google can suck at times but it doesn't hold a candle to the DMV. They should be nuked from orbit.
  - irishcoffee 10mo ago
    Other states figured this out. I can’t go to the DMV on a whim, I hafta schedule an appt. But I’ve never waited very long. Longest wait I had in years was when their comms went down and they strongly encouraged everyone to leave and reschedule. I did not, 20 minutes later comms were online. I think the most interesting part was when I finally was “helped” and the person was so rude and demeaning, loudly and vocally, I said as few words as possible to make things move along quickly. Towards the end, before I had what I needed, I was asked to take a survey and rate my experience. I waited until I had accomplished my goal, and without any guilt gave the worst rating I could. A manager called me later that day asking about my rating, I was very surprised. I explained myself and even got a bit of an apology. I’ll add your experience to my list of “why I’ll never live in California” which is starting to really become substantial.
    - jibal 10mo ago
      His "experience" is an irrelevant anecdote. Millions upon millions of Californians have had no trouble getting their real ID.
SomeHacker44 10mo ago
I don't understand why the author does not just submit his ID and the copyright page of the book in a single photo. If the link the author is trying to take down has a copyright notice naming them, then link that too. I am a bit biased though - I read way too many stories in HN of abuses of DMCA than this sort of issue. That said, this does seem unresponsive.

by paxys 10mo ago

bigstrat2003 10mo ago

> As for how to do it - I don't see why it is hard for you to come up with something that proves ownership. It is pretty hard to come up with proof of ownership when Google refuses to tell you what forms of proof they will find acceptable. When I go to the DMV and need to prove my residence, the DMV clearly states what forms are acceptable proof. Google should do the same, especially when they are asked what forms of proof are acceptable. Instead they gave this guy the runaround and ignored his question on how to prove ownership.

paxys 10mo ago
There is no passport or social security number or mailing address for the internet. Google can't tell you a definite proof they will accept because none exists, especially since copyright can be claimed on something as trivial as a line of text or a certain combination of bytes. It'll always be a judgement call on Google's part, and such a system will never be 100% accurate in either direction. If you want immediate and effective results then pay a lawyer.
ajaimk 10mo ago
A photo of the copy right page and your ID seems like just commons sense
sib 10mo ago
I guess you've never been to the California DMV? I needed to get my "Real ID" driver license (when I was newly moved to CA). I first went to their official website and printed out the page listing the various types of ID required (n1 from column A, n2 from column B type of thing.) I then gathered n1+1 items from column A and n2+1 items from column B. Headed over to the DMV office in West LA. Stood in two lines (one outside, one indoors) for more than 4 hours. Eventually got to the desk to verify that I had the correct ID types so that I could get a number in order to wait to be called up to another line where I would actually hand in my documents. Friendly gentleman with the SEIU sticker on his shirt says "this ID is not sufficient." I show him the printout of their website, indicating all the items matching (exceeding) the requirements. He says "I don't care." I ask to speak to the supervisor. He says, "supervisor's not here" and proceeds to stare at me. I eventually left and went to a different office. Google can suck at times but it doesn't hold a candle to the DMV. They should be nuked from orbit.
- irishcoffee 10mo ago
  Other states figured this out. I can’t go to the DMV on a whim, I hafta schedule an appt. But I’ve never waited very long. Longest wait I had in years was when their comms went down and they strongly encouraged everyone to leave and reschedule. I did not, 20 minutes later comms were online. I think the most interesting part was when I finally was “helped” and the person was so rude and demeaning, loudly and vocally, I said as few words as possible to make things move along quickly. Towards the end, before I had what I needed, I was asked to take a survey and rate my experience. I waited until I had accomplished my goal, and without any guilt gave the worst rating I could. A manager called me later that day asking about my rating, I was very surprised. I explained myself and even got a bit of an apology. I’ll add your experience to my list of “why I’ll never live in California” which is starting to really become substantial.
  - jibal 10mo ago
    His "experience" is an irrelevant anecdote. Millions upon millions of Californians have had no trouble getting their real ID.

SomeHacker44 10mo ago

I don't understand why the author does not just submit his ID and the copyright page of the book in a single photo. If the link the author is trying to take down has a copyright notice naming them, then link that too. I am a bit biased though - I read way too many stories in HN of abuses of DMCA than this sort of issue. That said, this does seem unresponsive.