DMCA Policy

Effective Date: October 25, 2026

HappyMod respects the intellectual property rights of copyright owners and expects users, developers, uploaders, and other contributors to do the same. This DMCA Policy explains how HappyMod handles claims of copyright infringement, removal requests, repeat infringer enforcement, and counter-notifications under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

This Policy applies to content made available on or through HappyMod, including apps, modified apps, files, descriptions, images, text, user submissions, developer content, and any other material that may be hosted, indexed, displayed, or otherwise made accessible through HappyMod.

1. Copyright Infringement Policy

HappyMod does not knowingly permit content that infringes another party’s copyright. If HappyMod receives a valid copyright infringement notice that complies with the DMCA, we will take appropriate action, which may include removing or disabling access to the allegedly infringing material.

HappyMod may also take additional actions where appropriate, including:

  • Removing or disabling access to content alleged to infringe copyright
  • Notifying the user or uploader responsible for the material
  • Restricting, suspending, or terminating accounts or upload privileges
  • Preventing re-upload of the same or substantially similar infringing material
  • Preserving relevant records where required or permitted by law
  • Cooperating with lawful requests from rights holders or authorities

Submitting false or misleading copyright claims may result in legal liability. Any person who knowingly misrepresents that material is infringing, or that material was removed by mistake or misidentification, may be liable for damages, including costs and attorneys’ fees.

2. Before Submitting a DMCA Notice

Before submitting a DMCA takedown notice, the complaining party should confirm that:

  • They own the copyright or are authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner
  • The material identified is protected by copyright
  • The use of the material has not been authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law
  • The claim is made in good faith
  • The notice contains accurate and complete information

The DMCA process is intended for copyright claims only. It is not the proper process for disputes involving trademarks, defamation, privacy rights, contract disagreements, app quality, malware reports, impersonation, or general policy complaints.

3. DMCA Takedown Notice Requirements

To request removal of allegedly infringing material, the copyright owner or authorized representative must submit a written DMCA notice to HappyMod’s designated copyright agent through the legal notice submission method made available by HappyMod.

A valid DMCA notice must include all of the following:

  1. Signature of the copyright owner or authorized representative
    The notice must include a physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on the owner’s behalf.

  2. Identification of the copyrighted work
    The notice must identify the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed. If multiple copyrighted works are covered by the notice, the complaining party may provide a representative list of those works.

  3. Identification of the allegedly infringing material
    The notice must identify the specific material claimed to be infringing and provide enough information for HappyMod to locate it. General allegations are not sufficient. The notice should include specific titles, file names, page names, content descriptions, or other identifying details.

  4. Contact information for the complaining party
    The notice must include sufficient information for HappyMod to contact the complaining party or authorized representative.

  5. Good faith statement
    The notice must include a statement that the complaining party has a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.

  6. Accuracy and authority statement
    The notice must include a statement that the information in the notice is accurate and, under penalty of perjury, that the complaining party is the copyright owner or is authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner.

Notices that do not substantially comply with the DMCA may be rejected, delayed, or returned for additional information.

4. Takedown Procedure

When HappyMod receives a DMCA notice that appears valid and complete, we will review the notice and take action as appropriate.

Our takedown process may include the following steps:

  1. Initial review
    HappyMod reviews the notice to determine whether it contains the required DMCA elements and sufficiently identifies the allegedly infringing material.

  2. Removal or disabling access
    If the notice is complete and valid, HappyMod may remove or disable access to the identified material expeditiously.

  3. Notification to affected user
    Where appropriate, HappyMod may notify the user, uploader, developer, or account holder associated with the removed or disabled material.

  4. Recordkeeping
    HappyMod may retain copies of the notice, related communications, removed content identifiers, account records, and other information necessary to enforce this Policy or comply with legal obligations.

  5. Repeat infringer review
    HappyMod may review the account or upload history of the affected user to determine whether further enforcement action is warranted.

HappyMod may decline to act on notices that are incomplete, abusive, fraudulent, unrelated to copyright, or not submitted by the copyright owner or an authorized representative.

5. Counter-Notification Policy

If a user believes that material was removed or disabled as a result of mistake or misidentification, the user may submit a DMCA counter-notification.

A counter-notification is a legal request asking HappyMod to restore material that was removed in response to a DMCA notice. The user should submit a counter-notification only if they have a good faith belief that the material was removed or disabled by mistake or misidentification.

6. Counter-Notification Requirements

A valid counter-notification must include all of the following:

  1. Signature of the user
    The counter-notification must include the user’s physical or electronic signature.

  2. Identification of removed material
    The counter-notification must identify the material that was removed or disabled and the location where the material appeared before it was removed or disabled.

  3. Statement under penalty of perjury
    The counter-notification must include a statement under penalty of perjury that the user has a good faith belief that the material was removed or disabled as a result of mistake or misidentification.

  4. User contact information
    The counter-notification must include the user’s name, address, and sufficient contact information.

  5. Consent to jurisdiction
    The counter-notification must include a statement that the user consents to the jurisdiction of the federal district court for the judicial district where the user’s address is located. If the user’s address is outside the United States, the user must consent to the jurisdiction of any federal district court in which HappyMod may be found.

  6. Acceptance of service of process
    The counter-notification must include a statement that the user will accept service of process from the party who submitted the original DMCA notice or that party’s agent.

Counter-notifications that do not substantially comply with the DMCA may be rejected or may not result in restoration of the material.

7. Counter-Notification Procedure

When HappyMod receives a valid counter-notification, we may take the following steps:

  1. Review the counter-notification
    HappyMod reviews the counter-notification to determine whether it contains the required DMCA elements.

  2. Forward the counter-notification
    HappyMod may forward the counter-notification to the party who submitted the original DMCA takedown notice.

  3. Waiting period
    If the complaining party does not notify HappyMod that it has filed a court action seeking to restrain the user from engaging in infringing activity, HappyMod may restore the removed material after the statutory waiting period.

  4. Restoration of material
    If permitted under the DMCA and HappyMod’s policies, the material may be restored or access may be re-enabled no sooner than 10 business days and no later than 14 business days after HappyMod receives a valid counter-notification.

HappyMod may decline to restore material where restoration would violate law, court order, platform policy, security requirements, or other legal obligations.

8. Repeat Infringer Policy

HappyMod maintains a policy for addressing repeat infringement. Users who repeatedly upload, submit, share, or make available infringing material may have their accounts, upload privileges, access, or participation restricted, suspended, or terminated.

In determining whether a user is a repeat infringer, HappyMod may consider factors such as:

  • The number of valid DMCA notices associated with the user
  • The seriousness of the alleged infringement
  • Whether the user repeatedly uploaded the same or similar material
  • Whether prior warnings or enforcement actions were issued
  • Whether valid counter-notifications were submitted
  • Evidence of abuse, evasion, or intentional infringement

HappyMod may take action after a single incident where the circumstances are serious, unlawful, harmful, or clearly intentional.

9. Misuse of the DMCA Process

HappyMod may reject or take action against abusive, fraudulent, incomplete, or bad faith DMCA submissions.

Examples of misuse include:

  • Submitting claims without owning or controlling the copyright
  • Submitting claims for content that is authorized, licensed, or legally permitted
  • Using the DMCA process to suppress criticism, competition, reviews, or lawful expression
  • Providing false information in a takedown notice or counter-notification
  • Submitting automated bulk notices without proper review
  • Repeatedly submitting defective or unsupported notices

HappyMod reserves the right to restrict access to DMCA submission processes for parties who abuse the process.

10. Removal Does Not Determine Liability

Removal or disabling of material in response to a DMCA notice does not mean that HappyMod has determined the material is infringing. Similarly, restoration of material after a counter-notification does not mean that HappyMod has determined the material is lawful.

The DMCA process is a legal notice and response procedure. Copyright disputes are ultimately the responsibility of the parties involved and may be resolved by agreement, court order, or other lawful means.

11. Standard Technical Measures

HappyMod accommodates and does not interfere with standard technical measures used by copyright owners to identify or protect copyrighted works, where such measures satisfy the requirements of applicable law.

12. Policy Updates

HappyMod may update this DMCA Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or enforcement procedures. The updated version will apply when published.