Do I have to designate an agent if I ever want to assert DMCA Safe Harbor protection?
Yes. The designation of an agent to receive notices of copyright infringement is 100% essential to have the ability to avail yourself of the DMCA safe harbor protections.
Can I act as my own DMCA Agent?
Of course you can. However, to get the same level of service as you would with DMCAAgent.com, would require a lot of time and effort. In addition to correctly registering with the United States Copyright office, maintaining proper records, and ongoing compliance, you would also need to have a firm grasp on United States copyright law and be able to analyze purported notices of copyright infringement pursuant to the DMCA and how said notices need to be appropriately handled.
What if I registered before December 31, 2017, do I need to register again?
If you registered with the United States copyright office before December 31, 2017 by using the “old paper system” and have not re-registered with the US copyright office using the new digital system, you are no longer compliant with the DMCA and act immediately!
Does registering a Designated Agent with the United States Copyright Office make it easier for Copyright holders to sue me?
The DMCA provides defensive safe harbor protections for certain service providers. Without registering and designating a DMCA Agent, you do not qualify for these protections. You may receive more DMCA Notifications, but complying with DMCA removal requests are what keep your website legally compliant. If your website cannot be found in the online designated agent database, you are more likely to be on the receiving end of legal action.
How quickly can DMCAAgent.com help get me protected?
From the time that you sign up with dmcaAgent.com we can have your designated agent registered with the United States Copyright Office in mere minutes. Yes, you heard that correctly, minutes.