Frequently Asked Questions about Copyrights and the DMCA

20260729_rev01 · COMPARED WITH 20250806_rev01

Full text changes — 20250806_rev01 to 20260729_rev01

1## **Policies**
2
3## **Does Scribd allow copyright infringements on Scribd and SlideShare?**
4
5No. Copyright infringement is illegal and not permitted under any circumstances.
6
7## **Does Scribd delete accounts with infringing content?**
8
9Yes. Scribd deletes the accounts and content of repeat infringers in appropriate circumstances as determined in its sole discretion.
10
11## **Why does Scribd allow anyone to upload documents?**
12
13Scribd understands that some of the most compelling and innovative authors do not have a publishing deal with a major publisher, and that independent authors are in need of services that help empower their ability to distribute their content. While Scribd understands that an "open door" policy occasionally leads to abuse, including copyright infringement, such uses are in the minority. Scribd's services are available to everyone.
14
15## **Can Scribd determine copyright ownership?**
16
17No. Scribd is not able to determine which items on Scribd and SlideShare may or may not infringe a third party's copyright. A valid DMCA notification is the minimum that Scribd can accept as proof-of-copyright, even if you reside outside the United States.
18
19## **Will Scribd act on my request that it terminate a user who infringes my content?**
20
21No. Scribd does not terminate users based solely on requests or demands alleging infringement. Scribd, however, will terminate the accounts of repeat infringers in appropriate circumstances as determined in its sole discretion.
22
23## **How do I request permission to use content that I find on Scribd?**
24
25Scribd's members retain the rights to the content they upload to Scribd and SlideShare. Scribd does not serve as a right agent or broker for matters related to permissions and licensing. All queries regarding the licensing of specific documents should be directed to the person that uploaded the content. Many members provide contact information on their profile page, but Scribd cannot provide additional contact information. Many authors and publishers feature copyright information and permission instructions on their websites.
26
27## **Copyright**
28
29## **What is copyright?**
30
31Copyright is a form of protection granted by law to authors of original creative works. Copyright applies to any creative expression including a book, photographs, artwork, writing, or recording. A copyright guarantees that the author or rights holder determines who gets to copy, re-use, or alter the original work. In the United States, an original work is under copyright protection from the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Copyrights can be held exclusively by the creator of the original work, or shared via license with another entity, such as a publisher or agency.
32
33The period for which a work remains under copyright varies from country to country. After a period of time, copyrights revert to the public domain. Works in the public domain can be copied or reused without restrictions. Some alternatives to full copyright have emerged in an attempt to add greater flexibility to copyright licensing. The most flexible and widely-used alternative is [Creative Commons](http://creativecommons.org/). Scribd provides uploaders the option of using Creative Commons licenses. Other [alternatives to copyright](https://www.scribd.com/copyright/alternatives-to-copyright), such as copyleft and the GNU Public License, are also in use across the Internet but are not supported on Scribd.
34
35Scribd is based in the United States and complies with all domestic and international copyright laws.
36
37## **What is copyright infringement?**
38
39Copyright infringement is the copying or re-use of a copyrighted work without permission of the rights holder. Copyright infringement can include copying all or part of a protected work for any purpose, or repurposing protected material in a derivative work. Copyright infringement, whether intentional or accidental, is illegal in most countries. You can be held monetarily liable for copyright infringement any time you upload copyrighted content without the rights holder's permission, even when:
40
41- the content is infringed elsewhere;
42- you previously purchased a copy of the copyrighted work, or intend to purchase a copy at a later time;
43- the copyright owner made the document available "for free" on Scribd or on another website;
44- you derive no financial compensation or benefit from the infringement;
45- you share copyrighted works for so-called "educational" or "non-commercial" use;
46- you declare that "no copyright infringement is intended";
47- you set a copyrighted work to "private," or when you intend to share only with a small group of your friends or family;
48- you accurately attribute the owner or author of the copyrighted content;
49- you use your creativity to update, change, or alter a copyrighted work;
50- your Scribd account has been suspended.
51
52## **What are the consequences of copyright infringement?**
53
54Copyright infringement, at the very least, can lead to the removal of your Scribd account and all your documents. However, you may still be prosecuted and held liable for monetary damages.
55
56## **What is fair use?**
57
58"Fair Use" is a doctrine under United States copyright law that provides for extremely limited use of limited portions of copyrighted material without acquiring permission from the copyright holder. Fair Use _**does not**_ allow you to distribute copyrighted works in their entirety for non-commercial or educational purposes, nor does it allow you to redistribute copyrighted works that you have previously purchased or downloaded for free on another website.
59
60Scribd does not evaluate claims of fair use, and must rely on the direction of a judge or other appropriate official. You may be liable for monetary damages if you use copyrighted work in a manner that is determined by a court of law to not meet the standard of Fair Use.
61
62## **What is the public domain?**
63
64"Public domain" refers to creative works to which the copyright has expired or been voluntarily forfeited. Copyright restrictions do not apply to works in the public domain. Content in the public domain can be copied, altered, or repurposed by anyone, at any time. Traditionally, items under copyright enter the public domain after a certain period of time. Certain items, such as laws, court records, and official documents published by the United States government are always in the public domain.
65
66## **What are some alternatives to copyright?**
67
68The copyright options available in most countries, full copyright ("all rights reserved") and public domain ("no rights reserved"), are occasionally insufficient to accommodate limited re-use of content in the digital era. Alternatives that attempt to add greater flexibility to copyright licensing have emerged in response. The most widely-used, [Creative Commons](http://creativecommons.org/), endeavors to strike a balance between the extremes and provide creators with greater flexibility and choice. Creative Commons licenses are a way for creators to offer the public limited permission to re-use, copy, distribute, and build upon original works. Creative Commons licenses do not "replace" copyright, and do not limit creator rights in any way. We encourage creators to take advantage of Creative Commons licenses. You can activate Creative Commons licenses by editing your document's settings once it is uploaded.
69
70Creative Commons licenses can only apply to original works, or works derived from other works in the public domain or the Creative Commons. Any attempt to apply a Creative Commons license to another's copyrighted work is copyright infringement.
71
72### Scribd supports the following copyright licenses:
73
74<table><tbody><tr><td><img src="https://s-f.scribdassets.com/images/static/copyright/cc/copyright.png" alt="Copyright"></td><td><strong>Copyright. All rights reserved.</strong></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Under traditional <strong>copyright</strong>, no one may copy, re-use, build upon, or edit your work in any way without your explicit permission.</td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://s-f.scribdassets.com/images/static/copyright/cc/cc-by.png" alt="CC BY"></td><td><strong>Attribution (CC BY)</strong></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><strong>CC BY</strong>&nbsp;lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. This is the most accommodating of licenses offered.</td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://s-f.scribdassets.com/images/static/copyright/cc/cc-by-sa.png" alt="CC BY-SA"></td><td><strong>Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)</strong></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><strong>CC BY-SA</strong> lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work even for commercial purposes, as long as they credit you and license their new creations under the identical terms. This license is often compared to "copyleft" free and open source software licenses. All new works based on yours will carry the same license, so any derivatives will also allow commercial use. This is the license used by Wikipedia, and is recommended for materials that would benefit from incorporating content from Wikipedia and similarly licensed projects.</td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://s-f.scribdassets.com/images/static/copyright/cc/cc-by-nd.png" alt="CC BY-ND"></td><td><strong>Attribution-NoDerivs (CC BY-ND)</strong></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><strong>CC BY-ND</strong> allows for redistribution, commercial and non-commercial, as long as it is passed along unchanged and in whole, with credit to you.</td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://s-f.scribdassets.com/images/static/copyright/cc/cc-by-nc.png" alt="CC BY-NC"></td><td><strong>Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC)</strong></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><strong>CC BY-NC</strong> lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work non-commercially, and although their new works must also acknowledge you and be non-commercial, they don't have to license their derivative works on the same terms.</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;<img src="https://s-f.scribdassets.com/images/static/copyright/cc/cc-by-nc-sa.png" alt="CC BY-NC-SA"></td><td>&nbsp;<strong>Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA)</strong></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><strong>CC BY-NC-SA</strong> lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work non-commercially, as long as they credit you and license their new creations under the identical terms.</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;<img src="https://s-f.scribdassets.com/images/static/copyright/cc/cc-by-nc-nd.png" alt="CC BY-NC-ND"></td><td>&nbsp;<strong>Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)</strong></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><strong>CC BY-NC-ND</strong> is the most restrictive of the Creative Commons licenses, only allowing others to download your works and share them with others as long as they credit you, but they can't change them in any way or use them commercially.</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;<img src="https://s-f.scribdassets.com/images/static/copyright/cc/public-domain.png" alt="Public domain"></td><td>&nbsp;<strong>Public domain</strong></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><strong>Public domain</strong> refers to creative works to which the copyright has expired or been voluntarily forfeited. Copyright restrictions do not apply to works in the public domain. Content in the public domain can be copied, altered, or repurposed by anyone, at any time.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>
75
76##
77**Can I copyright my work by publishing on Scribd and SlideShare?**
78
79In the United States, an original work enjoys protection from copyright infringement from the moment it is created and "fixed in a tangible medium of expression." Publishing to Scribd and SlideShare confers no special status.
80
81## **Can I post copyrighted content if it is intended for educational or non-commercial use?**
82
83No. There is no exception under United States copyright law for the redistribution of complete copyrighted works for educational or noncommercial purposes. You can be held monetarily liable for copyright infringement, even if you have not received financial compensation for distributing copyrighted content.
84
85## **How can I tell if a document I've uploaded infringes someone's copyright?**
86
87Researching the copyright status of a creative work can be difficult and challenging. While the US copyright office provides a search of its database at [http://www.copyright.gov/records/](http://www.copyright.gov/records/), the records may not be complete and should not be considered a definitive source.
88
89The basic rule of thumb is, if you did not create a work yourself and you are unsure whether it is copyrighted, then do not upload it.
90
91## **Reporting copyright infringements**
92
93Scribd is fully compliant with the DMCA and complies with all applicable laws. Scribd responds to valid notifications of copyright infringement within 2 business days. Scribd has also developed BookID, an automated copyright protection system that helps to safeguard intellectual property on Scribd.com and in the Scribd mobile app. BookID scans every document uploaded to Scribd and removes those that have the same, or a substantially similar, fingerprint. BookID intermittently scans the entire Scribd library to remove matching content that was uploaded prior to fingerprinting. BookID's approach reduces misidentifications and enables the detection of infringing works even if they have been altered to some degree.
94
95## **How do I report an infringement of my copyright on Scribd or SlideShare?**
96
97Use [this form](https://support.scribd.com/hc/en-us/articles/210129146).
98
99## **Who can report copyright infringements?**
100
101Under the DMCA, you may request removal of an alleged copyright infringement only if:
102
103- You are the creator of content posted to Scribd without your permission
104- You are the duly authorized representative of the rights holder of content posted to Scribd without permission
105
106These requirements suggest that only rights holders are in a position to know where and how they have authorized their works to appear, and whether they object to the presence of their content at a given location. In compliance with the law, Scribd will only process notifications from rights holders or their agents.
107
108If you are concerned that a work on Scribd or SlideShare is not authorized by the copyright holder, please contact the author or publisher directly so that they can take the necessary steps to request removal. Many publishers provide special forms or email addresses on their websites for readers concerned about possible infringements.
109
110## **How can I report infringements of other people's work?**
111
112Scribd cannot accept notifications of copyright infringement from concerned readers or other third parties. If you are concerned that a work on Scribd is not authorized by the copyright holder, please contact the author or publisher directly so that they can take the necessary steps to request removal. Many publishers provide special forms or email addresses on their websites for readers concerned about possible infringements.
113
114## **How can I monitor for infringements of my copyright?**
115
116The following services are available to help copyright holders monitor Scribd and other websites for possible infringements. These listings are provided for informational purposes only and Scribd does not recommend or endorse any particular service. Please direct any questions you have to the listed company.
117
118## Google Alerts
119
120Google alerts is a free service that will email you whenever an item that references certain keywords are indexed by the Google search engine. This is the cheapest and simplest way to monitor for your content on Scribd. Items uploaded to Scribd are usually indexed by Google within a few hours. To receive a notification that an item has been indexed by Google:
121
122> 1. Log into Google, and go to **[http://google.com/alerts](http://google.com/alerts)**
123> 2. Enter an appropriate search query, typically the author's name or a title of a publication. To focus your search on Scribd, use the "site:scribd.com" operator (without quotes). A typical Scribd-focused search query looks like **"stephen king shining" site:scribd.com**Eliminate the site:scribd.com operator to search the entire Internet.
124> 3. Set **HOW OFTEN**: to "As-it-happens" and set **HOW MANY**: to "All results"
125> 4. Click **CREATE ALERT** to create your alert.
126
127 See [here](http://support.google.com/websearch/bin/answer.py) for more details on using Google search operators to help narrow your search.
128
129## Commercial Services
130
131There are many commercial service providers that can help you monitor your intellectual property on the internet. Some of these are:
132
133- [Digimarc](https://www.digimarc.com/products/digimarc-services/piracy-intelligence) (formerly Attributor)
134- [DMCA.com](http://dmca.com/)
135- [DMCA Force](https://dmcaforce.com/)
136- [MarkMonitor](https://www.markmonitor.com/)
137- [MUSO](https://www.muso.com/)
138- [Onsist](https://www.onsist.com/dmca-takedown-protection-service/)
139- [Red Points](https://www.redpoints.com/)
140- [Takedown Czar](https://www.dmcatakedownczar.com/)
141
142## **How can I find out more general information about copyright?**
143
144The United States copyright office and the Library of Congress provide a wealth of information related to copyrights in the United States at [http://copyright.gov](http://copyright.gov/).
145
146For countries outside the US, the World Intellectual Property Organization provides a list of copyright-related websites for countries around the world at [http://www.wipo.int/directory/en/urls.jsp](http://www.wipo.int/directory/en/urls.jsp).
147
148## **BookID™ copyright protection system**
149
150## **How does Scribd protect intellectual property?**
151
152Scribd is fully compliant with the DMCA and complies with all applicable laws. Scribd responds to valid notifications of copyright infringement within 2 business days. Scribd has also developed BookID, an automated copyright protection system that helps to safeguard intellectual property on Scribd.com and in the Scribd mobile app. BookID scans every document uploaded to Scribd and removes those that have the same, or a substantially similar, fingerprint. BookID intermittently scans the entire Scribd library to remove matching content that was uploaded prior to fingerprinting. BookID's approach reduces misidentifications and enables the detection of infringing works even if they have been altered to some degree.
153
154## **What is BookID?**
155
156BookID is Scribd's automated copyright protection system. Scribd developed BookID to help safeguard intellectual property on Scribd.com and in the Scribd mobile app.
157
158## **How does BookID work?**
159
160BookID algorithmically analyzes computer-readable text for semantic data that it then encodes into a digital "fingerprint." BookID stores the fingerprints of known copyrighted works on a secure server that is inaccessible to the Internet and the general public.
161
162BookID scans every document uploaded to Scribd and removes those that have the same, or a substantially similar, fingerprint. BookID intermittently scans the entire Scribd library to remove matching content that was uploaded prior to fingerprinting. BookID's approach reduces misidentifications and enables the detection of infringing works even if they have been altered to some degree.
163
164## **When is content fingerprinted by BookID?**
165
166Content is fingerprinted by BookID when:
167
168- it is uploaded directly to BookID by a verified author or publisher enrolled in the BookID for Authors and Publishers Program;
169- it is added to Scribd's subscription reading and listening service through a verified publisher or distributor.
170- it is removed from Scribd pursuant to a DMCA notification.
171
172## **Is BookID guaranteed to detect all copyright infringements?**
173
174No. BookID relies on computer-readable text, which is not necessarily the same as text that is readable by humans. Content scanned from paper sources may not contain computer-readable text, which makes those sources unsuitable for fingerprinting. Similarly, text that is encoded with optical character recognition (OCR) technology may contain garbled or partial data. These conditions make it very difficult, if not impossible, to detect matches.
175
176BookID's fingerprint scanner cannot detect specific keywords, titles, names, copyright notices, or other disclaimers that are part of a document's text. In other words, BookID cannot be programmed to block all documents that contain a book's title. Likewise, BookID cannot translate different languages. If BookID fingerprints an English-language document, it can only detect subsequent uploads that are also in English.
177
178BookID cannot detect images, illustrations, and sheet music at this time.
179
180[Learn more about BookID](https://support.scribd.com/hc/en-us/articles/360037497152)
181
182## **Disputing removed content**
183
184## **What do I do if BookID misidentifies my content as infringing?**
185
186BookID contains fingerprints of educational textbooks and other works that contain long excerpts of classic literature, religious texts, legal documents, and government publications that are typically in the public domain. This occasionally results in the temporary removal of non-copyrighted, authorized, or public domain material from Scribd.com and the mobile app.
187
188While the occasional false positives is inevitable, we continually tune BookID to reduce their occurrence. Unfortunately, the high volume of fingerprints and uploads to Scribd prevent us from conducting manual oversight or uploader notification prior to removing a match. If you have received a notification that your work was removed by BookID and you feel the removal was improper, forward the notification that you received to [copyright@scribd.com](mailto:copyright@scribd.com) along with an explanation of your concern. We will review each case as quickly as possible.
189
190## **How do I dispute a removal of my content due to a DMCA notification?**
191
192Scribd removes content upon receipt of a valid DMCA notification. Scribd notifies the uploading member at the email address on file immediately upon the content's removal. Scribd members can appeal a DMCA notification through a process called counter-notification.
193
194If you believe that a DMCA notification sent to Scribd was in error, you must send Scribd a communication that contains the following:
195
196- Identification of the material that has been removed or to which access has been disabled and the location at which the material appeared before it was removed or access to it was disabled.
197- A statement under penalty of perjury that the subscriber has a good faith belief that the material was removed or disabled as a result of mistake or misidentification of the material to be removed or disabled.
198- The subscriber's name, address, and telephone number, and a statement that the subscriber consents to the jurisdiction of Federal District Court for the judicial district in which the address is located, or if the subscriber's address is outside of the United States, for any judicial district in which Scribd may be found, and that the subscriber will accept service of process from the person who provided notification under subsection (c)(1)(C) or an agent of such person.
199- A physical or electronic signature of the subscriber.
200
201Scribd will forward your counter-notification to the original complainant. Scribd is not authorized to mediate or adjudicate your dispute with the complainant.
202
203Once the complainant receives your counter-notification, they can choose to resolve the issue with you directly, voluntarily rescind their complaint, or ignore your counter-notification. Scribd can then restore the content to the site once the complainant rescinds their notification or if they ignore your counter-notification for more than fourteen (14) days,
204
205Counter-notifications can be sent by mail to:
206
207```
208Scribd, Inc.
209Attn: Scribd DMCA copyright infringement notification
210460 Bryant Street, #100
211San Francisco, CA
21294107-2594
213USA
214```
215
216or fax to:
217
218```
219415.896.9896
220Attn: Scribd DMCA copyright infringement notification
221```
222
223or email to:
224
225```
226copyright@scribd.com
227Subject: Scribd DMCA copyright infringement notification
228```