Copyright Counter Notification Template for Ireland

When your content has been wrongfully removed from an online platform due to a copyright takedown notice, a Copyright Counter Notification provides your legal pathway to challenge the removal and request reinstatement. Under Irish law, this document serves as your formal response to dispute incorrect copyright claims while ensuring compliance with the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 and relevant EU regulations.

When do you need this document?

You need a Copyright Counter Notification when you believe content has been removed from an online platform based on an incorrect or bad faith copyright claim. This situation commonly arises when your original content is mistakenly flagged, when you have proper licensing or fair dealing rights, or when the copyright claim exceeds the scope of the actual copyrighted work. The document is also essential when automated content detection systems incorrectly identify your content as infringing, or when competitors make false copyright claims to suppress legitimate content.

Key legal considerations

Your counter notification must include several critical legal elements to be effective under Irish law. You must provide a sworn statement that you have a good faith belief the content was removed due to mistake or misidentification. The document requires your consent to the jurisdiction of Irish courts and agreement that you will accept service of process from the original complainant. You must also provide accurate contact information and specific identification of the removed content, including URLs where it was located. Additionally, your statement must be made under penalty of perjury, meaning false statements can result in criminal liability.

Legal requirements in Ireland

Under the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 and EU regulations, Irish law requires your counter notification to meet specific formal requirements. The document must be in writing and include your full legal name, physical address, telephone number, and email address. You must provide a detailed description of the removed material and its location before removal. The counter notification must contain your statement under penalty of perjury that you consent to Irish court jurisdiction and that you believe in good faith that the material was removed due to mistake or misidentification. Service providers typically have 10-14 business days to forward your counter notification to the original complainant, who then has 10 business days to file a court action or allow reinstatement of your content.