Copyright, Trademark & Removal Requests

DRAFT – to be reviewed by a qualified US IP attorney before launch. Not legal advice. Placeholders in [BRACKETS].

We respect intellectual property. Secret Lives of Mascots is an independent parody publication, but we know rights holders may disagree with how their characters appear. We make it easy to raise a concern.

Our commitment

When we receive a complete request, we promptly take the cartoon down while we review it (target: within [2 business days]), and we will reply to you.

How to request removal (fastest)

Use the Request Removal form, or email our designated agent.

DMCA notice (copyright) — 17 U.S.C. § 512(c)(3)

Please include:
1. Your physical or electronic signature (or that of an authorized agent).
2. Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to be infringed.
3. The URL(s) of the material on our site.
4. Your name, address, telephone number and email.
5. A statement that you have a good-faith belief the use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
6. A statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information is accurate and that you are authorized to act for the owner.

Designated agent: [NAME], [ADDRESS], [COPYRIGHT@secretlivesofmascots.com], [PHONE]. [ACTION: register agent with the US Copyright Office DMCA Designated Agent Directory, $6 fee, renew every 3 years.]

Trademark concerns

Trademark issues aren’t covered by the DMCA, but send them the same way: identify the mark, its owner, the URL and your concern. We handle them with the same prompt review.

Counter-notice — 17 U.S.C. § 512(g)

If your content was removed and you believe it was a mistake or misidentification, send: your signature; identification of the removed material and its former location; a statement under penalty of perjury that you have a good-faith belief it was removed by mistake or misidentification; your name, address and phone; and consent to the jurisdiction of the federal district court for your address (or, if outside the US, any district where we may be found) and to accept service from the complainant. We may restore the material in 10–14 business days unless the complainant notifies us it has filed a court action.

Misrepresentation

Under 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), knowingly false notices or counter-notices may create liability.

Repeat infringers

We will terminate access for repeat infringers where appropriate.

Our use of characters is intended as parody and commentary, but we do not claim that every use is automatically fair use or non-infringing. That is why we review every request seriously.