Copyright & DMCA Policy

Last Updated: February 2025

Respect for Intellectual Property

TownScout respects the intellectual property rights of others and expects users of our platform to do the same. This policy outlines our procedures for addressing copyright infringement claims.

DMCA Compliance

We comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and respond to notices of alleged copyright infringement.

What Is Copyright Infringement?

Copyright infringement occurs when copyrighted material is used without permission. Common examples on our platform include:

  • Unauthorized use of photos or logos in business listings
  • Copying reviews or descriptions from other sources
  • Posting copyrighted text without attribution
  • Sharing protected images in discussions

Reporting Copyright Infringement

If you believe your copyrighted work has been posted on TownScout without authorization, please send a notice to our Designated Agent.

Required Information

Your notice must include:

  1. Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed
  2. Identification of the material claimed to be infringing (URL preferred)
  3. Your contact information: name, address, phone number, email
  4. A statement of good faith belief that the use is not authorized
  5. A statement under penalty of perjury that the information is accurate
  6. Your physical or electronic signature

Designated Agent

Copyright Agent TownScout LLC 123 Main Street, Austin, TX 78701 Email: dmca@townscout.com Phone: (512) 555-0123

Our Response Process

Upon Receiving a Valid Notice

  1. We will promptly remove or disable access to the infringing material
  2. We will notify the user who posted the content
  3. The user will have an opportunity to file a counter-notice

Timeline

  • Notice processing: Within 1-2 business days
  • Content removal: Immediate upon valid notice
  • User notification: Within 24 hours of removal

Counter-Notice Procedure

If you believe content was removed in error, you may file a counter-notice.

Counter-Notice Requirements

Your counter-notice must include:

  1. Identification of the material that was removed
  2. A statement under penalty of perjury that you have a good faith belief the material was removed in error
  3. Your consent to jurisdiction in your local federal court
  4. Your physical or electronic signature

After Counter-Notice

  • We will provide the counter-notice to the original reporter
  • The reporter has 10-14 business days to file a lawsuit
  • If no lawsuit is filed, we may restore the content (in our discretion)

Repeat Infringer Policy

We reserve the right to terminate user accounts that are repeat copyright infringers.

Fair Use

Some uses of copyrighted material may constitute "fair use" under copyright law. Fair use considerations include:

  • The purpose and character of the use
  • The nature of the copyrighted work
  • The amount used relative to the whole
  • The effect on the potential market

User Responsibilities

Before Posting Content

  • Ensure you own or have permission to use all content
  • Provide proper attribution when required
  • Consider fair use principles
  • When in doubt, seek permission

Business Listing Photos

Business owners should:

  • Use original photos or obtain proper licenses
  • Credit photographers when required
  • Remove content if ownership is disputed

License for User Content

By posting content, you grant TownScout a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to:

  • Display the content on our platform
  • Distribute the content to users
  • Create necessary copies for technical purposes

You retain ownership of your content.

Questions

For questions about copyright or this policy:

This DMCA policy is a placeholder and will be replaced with comprehensive legal text.