DMCA To Google Results in reddit.com Homepage Deindexing

Written By: Clint Butler
Edited By: Clint Butler
Published On: January 3, 2022 

by Clint ButlerDigitaleer

(SEO This Week) - DMCAs have long been a tool by copyright holders to get their works removed from websites that are not authorized to share them. They've been used by everyone from photographers, artists, and even video production agencies.

Google has a system to report URL's that are violating your copyright which if approved, will result in the removal of the offending web page from Google search.

Oftentimes, if you search, you'll see this notice at the bottom of the search results page

DMCA notice

And if you click the "read the DMCA complaint" you'll be taken to a page like this

You'll note that reddit.com is at the top of the list, however, the (43) indicates that there are 43 URLs with copyright material on them that the "Principal" requested to be removed.

You can see those URLs by scrolling to the bottom of the complaint and requesting access to the full URL list. All you have to provide is an email list that opens a link you can only click on one time.

This is the result

You'll note that the principal put the homepage in their list, and these lists are considered "valid" complaints.

So now, https://www.reddit.com/ is deindexed from Google

Google claims that they have systems in place to keep malicious DMCA's in check, and I'm not saying this one is malicious, but removing Reddit's homepage without a manual review by at least two people with some common sense could have prevented this fiasco.

That said, this is certainly something that could happen to any small business at any time, so be careful when using images and videos that you don't have explicit documentation of license rights.

Update Jan 5 - Reddit's homepage is now back in the index.

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