SourceBoard
Policy

Copyright, DMCA and attribution

How source attribution relates to copyright and removal requests.

Last updated: September 17, 2026

SourceBoard is designed to help people identify where content came from. Attribution, source identification, and copyright are related concepts, but they are not the same.

This policy explains how SourceBoard handles attribution, copyright concerns, takedown requests, counter-notices or disputes, and repeated infringement.

1. Attribution is not ownership

An Accepted Source or Verified Source may identify:

  • an original publication;
  • an earlier publication;
  • a creator;
  • a distributor;
  • a website;
  • a post;
  • a media file;
  • a canonical page; or
  • another relevant provenance reference.

That identification does not automatically establish who owns copyright.

A source label does not:

  • transfer copyright;
  • grant a license;
  • waive copyright;
  • prove that a use is legally authorized; or
  • make SourceBoard the owner of the identified work.

2. User responsibility

Users must have the rights, permissions, licenses, or lawful basis necessary for content they upload or reproduce.

Where linking to an original source is sufficient, users are encouraged to link rather than unnecessarily re-upload full copyrighted works.

3. Quotations and excerpts

Users may include limited quotations or excerpts where legally permitted and reasonably necessary for source identification, commentary, criticism, research, reporting, or discussion.

Whether a particular use is lawful depends on applicable law and context.

A rights holder or authorized representative may request review of material believed to infringe copyright.

A useful notice should identify:

  • the copyrighted work or works;
  • the SourceBoard content at issue;
  • the exact URL or other identifier needed to locate the material;
  • the complainant's relationship to the rights holder;
  • contact information sufficient for SourceBoard to respond;
  • a clear explanation of the claimed infringement; and
  • any additional statement or verification reasonably needed to evaluate the request.

Incomplete notices may require clarification.

5. No universal DMCA designation

SourceBoard's copyright process is intended to function internationally and is not, by this policy alone, a representation that SourceBoard has designated an agent, elected a particular statutory safe-harbor regime, or established legal residence in any specific country.

Where a specific legal notice procedure applies, SourceBoard may request the information required by that procedure.

6. Review of notices

SourceBoard may consider:

  • whether the claimant appears authorized;
  • whether the content is actually hosted by SourceBoard;
  • whether the complaint identifies the material precisely;
  • whether the use may be authorized, licensed, public domain, or otherwise lawful;
  • whether only a link is being provided;
  • whether removal would affect source-history integrity; and
  • whether a less restrictive measure can address the issue.

SourceBoard may remove, disable, restrict, preserve, or request changes to content while a complaint is reviewed.

A SourceBoard post may link to content hosted elsewhere.

SourceBoard generally cannot remove material from a third-party website merely because SourceBoard links to it.

Where appropriate, SourceBoard may remove or restrict the SourceBoard link or associated content.

8. Source history after removal

When copyrighted media is removed, SourceBoard may preserve non-infringing information necessary to maintain source-history integrity, such as:

  • a record that a source had been identified;
  • a canonical URL;
  • timestamps;
  • status history;
  • moderation history; or
  • limited internal evidence.

This does not mean removed media will remain publicly available.

9. Counter-notices and disputes

Where appropriate and legally permitted, a user whose content was removed may submit a counter-notice or dispute explaining why the material should be restored.

A dispute should identify:

  • the removed material;
  • the reason restoration is requested;
  • any relevant license, authorization, ownership, public-domain status, or legal exception; and
  • information sufficient to evaluate the request.

SourceBoard may decline to restore material where the legal or factual basis remains unclear.

10. Repeated infringement

SourceBoard may restrict or terminate accounts associated with repeated or serious copyright infringement, taking into account context, validity of complaints, reversals, and evidence of abuse of the notice process.

11. False or abusive notices

Do not knowingly submit false copyright claims.

SourceBoard may reject or take action against abusive notices intended to:

  • silence criticism;
  • conceal source history;
  • remove lawful commentary;
  • harass a user;
  • suppress evidence; or
  • manipulate SourceBoard's verification process.

12. Attribution disputes

A creator may disagree with how a work is attributed even when no copyright infringement has occurred.

SourceBoard may review attribution disputes separately from copyright complaints.

Possible outcomes include:

  • correcting a source URL;
  • updating creator information;
  • adding context;
  • marking a source disputed;
  • revoking a source status;
  • preserving multiple relevant publication references; or
  • taking no action where the existing attribution remains supported.

13. Trademarks and identity

Copyright complaints are not the correct process for every trademark, impersonation, publicity, privacy, or identity dispute.

Those issues should be reported through the appropriate SourceBoard channel.

14. Contact

Copyright and attribution requests should be submitted through SourceBoard's official copyright, legal, support, or report channels.