1. Record what you find
Before anything is removed, save the web addresses and take dated screenshots. It feels grim, but a clear record makes takedown requests faster and helps if you later go to the police.
2. Report it to the site
Most sites have a report or copyright form, often linked in the footer. Use it, and say that you are the creator and copyright owner and did not give permission for the content to be shared there.
3. Send a copyright takedown notice
A takedown notice (often called a DMCA notice, after the United States law many hosts follow) formally asks the host to remove content you own. It usually needs the address of the content, proof it is yours, such as a link to the original on your page, and a statement that the sharing is not authorised.
Most mainstream hosts act on a valid notice. Some sites are slow or ignore notices, which is why the next step matters too.
4. Remove it from search results
Even if a site ignores you, search engines can remove links to infringing content from their results, which makes it much harder to find. Google explains its process in removing content from Google (external site), and Microsoft has a Bing content removal form (external site). [VERIFY: both links and their current forms]
Search engines may share copies of removal notices with the Lumen database (external site), which publishes them with contact details removed. If staying anonymous matters, file under your stage name or ask someone to file on your behalf. [VERIFY: current Google and Lumen handling of sender names]
5. Secure your account and find the source
Change your password, check two-factor authentication is on and review who has access. If leaks carry your watermark or appear soon after a particular sale, that can help identify the source.
Where can I get support?
In England and Wales, sharing an intimate photo or film of someone without their consent is a criminal offence under section 66B of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (external site), and you can report it to the police. The law differs in Scotland and Northern Ireland. [VERIFY: how this applies to content first sold on a subscription platform]
Specialist services can also help. The Revenge Porn Helpline (external site) supports adults in the UK, and StopNCII (external site) offers free hash-matching that stops known images being re-uploaded to participating platforms. [VERIFY: both services cover leaked paid content]
Sources
- removing content from Google (support.google.com)
- Bing content removal form (microsoft.com)
- Lumen database (lumendatabase.org)
- section 66B of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Revenge Porn Helpline (revengepornhelpline.org.uk)
- StopNCII (stopncii.org)
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Platform features and rules change, so check your platform’s current terms. Last checked .
