Affiliate Sites Targeted: How Abusers Are Gaming the DMCA System
Once a well-intentioned tool for protecting creatives, the DMCA has morphed into a weapon of digital sabotage. Affiliate marketers, particularly in the online gambling space, are finding themselves at the mercy of fraudulent takedown claims that manipulate search engines and erase content overnight.
The Flaws of a Well-Intentioned System
The DMCA was introduced in 1998 to help copyright holders combat online infringement. Section 512, the so-called “Safe Harbor” provision, limits liability for online platforms – as long as they promptly remove content when faced with a takedown notice.
But here lies the issue: validity checks are minimal. Once a request seems legitimate on paper, the content is pulled. The appeals process takes up to two weeks and during that time the material stays offline, even if the claim is bogus.
In fast-paced sectors like news and affiliate marketing, those two weeks are enough to cause serious harm.
Affiliate Publishers in the Crosshairs
False DMCA claims have become tactical weapons in the gambling affiliate world. Entire websites are being hit with dozens – or even hundreds – of takedown notices, many from unverifiable or completely fictitious sources.
Fake legal entities like “Peasy IP Law” or “Ridgefield IP Law” submit claims with inconsistent details, while some takedown requests supposedly originate from “government bodies” like the UK Gambling Commission – despite zero contact with the affected webmasters.
For highly competitive keywords, even a short disappearance from Google rankings can mean thousands in lost revenue.
The Takedown Economy
Freelancers on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork now openly offer takedown services as part of their gig portfolios.
The consequence? Content is removed based on flawed or fabricated notices, with minimal oversight. Whether it’s out of malice or manipulation, the end result is the same: content disappears, and businesses bleed.
Statistical Red Flags
Google’s Transparency Report has recorded hundreds of millions of takedown requests annually. YouTube alone confirmed that 6% of 2024 video-related claims were fraudulent.
Between 2019 and 2022, the Lumen Database logged nearly 34,000 false DMCA notices targeting genuine journalism. The trick? Republish the article with a fake backdated timestamp, then submit a copyright claim on it.
In 2024, Lumen flagged another 60,000 dubious notices, mistakenly sweeping up unrelated sites based solely on keywords. Legitimate affiliate sites are increasingly caught in the crossfire.
Silence, Delays, and Escalation
Affiliate publishers rarely speak publicly, fearing further targeting. One gambling site, however, shared that it had filed over 50 counter-notices in a single month – only to receive one response from Google. The other 49 remained unresolved long after the standard appeal window.
The combination of low response rates, fake law firms, and shady government impersonators reveals a deep weakness in the current system. And the cost is climbing.
Legal Action and the Long Road Ahead
There are flickers of resistance. Google has taken legal action against serial abusers. High-profile firms such as Eliminalia, known for mass takedown requests, are under scrutiny in Europe.
Even so, systemic reform remains elusive. The US Copyright Office’s 2020 review of Section 512 labelled the system “unbalanced,” but stopped short of calling for sweeping changes. Instead, it recommends minor “fine-tuning.”
But without faster reform, the loopholes remain – and those with bad intentions will continue to exploit them.
A Call for Reform and Vigilance
Affiliate publishers have become silent casualties in a copyright system skewed by speed and opacity. The DMCA, meant to protect creative rights, now threatens to erase legitimate content with the click of a button.
Until structural reforms are made, awareness is the first line of defence. Affiliate businesses must document, appeal, and push back—loudly—against fraudulent takedown tactics. Because when the system is flawed, the entire digital ecosystem suffers.
