If material in which you own copyright has been copied onto another website without your permission, it’s likely that your copyright has been infringed. For information about situations where there might not be an infringement of copyright, see our information sheet Fair dealing; for information on what options are open to you if you suspect your copyright has been infringed, see our information sheet Infringement: what can I do?

Often the issue can be resolved by a simple email or letter to the proprietor of the other website. Another possibility is to contact the internet service provider (ISP); it is in the ISP’s interests to remove or disable access to copyright material on its system if it becomes aware that copyright is being infringed or “becomes aware of facts and circumstances that make it apparent that the material is likely to be infringing”.

Generally, when you contact the ISP, you need to provide them with several pieces of information:

• the material that is allegedly infringes your copyright;

• the basis on which you own copyright (for example, the material was created by you or by your employee); and

• that you did not license the other party either to reproduce that material or to make it available online.