GitHub · GitHub Terms of Service · View original document ↗

DMCA and Intellectual Property Takedowns

Medium severity Unique · 0 of 343 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

GitHub will respond to valid DMCA copyright takedown notices by removing or disabling access to infringing content, and repeat infringers may have their accounts terminated.

This analysis describes what GitHub's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

The provision operationalizes GitHub's obligation to receive and process DMCA takedown notifications as required under the DMCA statute, establishing the mechanism and contact point through which copyright claims are submitted and documented.

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

Medium Apr 28, 2026

GitHub's updated Terms of Service now include an explicit section governing AI features, including Copilot. The new section establishes specific contractual terms for how user data may be collected, used, and retained for developing and improving AI and machine learning models, and identifies what controls are available to users. The practical effect is that AI-related data practices are now consolidated under dedicated contractual language rather than dispersed across general service terms.

View change record →
Medium Apr 19, 2026

GitHub's Terms of Service update on April 19, 2026 involved substantial revisions across 54 sentences, with 40 sentences removed and 4 added. The extent of change suggests modifications to core service provisions; however, without access to the specific language that was modified, removed, or added, the precise operational implications for users cannot be determined. Users should review the updated Terms directly to understand how the changes affect their usage rights, account obligations, or dispute resolution procedures.

View change record →

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Users who receive multiple DMCA takedown notices risk having their account permanently terminated, and content may be removed quickly upon a valid copyright claim without prior user notification.

How other platforms handle this

OpenAI Medium

As between you and OpenAI, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, you retain any rights you have in the content you submit to our Services. OpenAI will assign to you all of its rights, title, and interest, if any, in and to the output of the Services generated in response to your input (the ...

X Medium

Policies that protect Intellectual Property rights of individual and organizations on the X Platform

Shopify Medium

By submitting Content to Shopify, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license (with the right to sublicense) to use, copy, reproduce, process, adapt, modify, publish, transmit, display and distribute such Content in any and all media or distribution methods (now known or later deve...

See all platforms with this clause type →

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
If you believe that content on our website violates your copyright, please contact us in accordance with our Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy. If you are a copyright owner and you believe that content on GitHub violates your rights, please contact us via our convenient DMCA form or by emailing copyright@github.com. There may be legal consequences for sending a false or frivolous takedown notice.

— Excerpt from GitHub's GitHub Terms of Service

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (Compliance & governance intelligence)

GitHub's DMCA takedown policy creates IP compliance obligations for enterprise users hosting proprietary or third-party code, and repeated takedowns triggering account termination could constitute a material operational risk for businesses relying on GitHub for code management.

Full compliance analysis

Regulatory citations, enforcement risk, and due diligence action items.

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC may have oversight interest where DMCA takedown processes are used deceptively or abusively to suppress legitimate content.
    File a complaint →

Applicable regulations

DMCA
United States Federal
DSA
European Union

Provision details

Document information
Document
GitHub Terms of Service
Entity
GitHub
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 20, 2026
Last verified
March 20, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-001340
Document ID
CA-D-00253
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
500196e2878ffe21d8f1488931682264d47bf9c90fd7286a42607def0942608c
Analysis generated
March 20, 2026 10:21 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: GitHub
Document: GitHub Terms of Service
Record ID: CA-P-001340
Captured: 2026-03-20 10:21:45 UTC
SHA-256: 500196e2878ffe21…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/github/github-terms-of-service/dmca-and-intellectual-property-takedowns/
Accessed: June 10, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does GitHub's DMCA and Intellectual Property Takedowns clause do?

The provision operationalizes GitHub's obligation to receive and process DMCA takedown notifications as required under the DMCA statute, establishing the mechanism and contact point through which copyright claims are submitted and documented.

How does this clause affect you?

Users who receive multiple DMCA takedown notices risk having their account permanently terminated, and content may be removed quickly upon a valid copyright claim without prior user notification.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with GitHub?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by GitHub.