DMCA Policy

Last updated: May 23, 2026

Circl respects the intellectual property rights of others and expects everyone on the platform to do the same. This policy explains how to report copyright infringement and how we respond.

1. Our Commitment

Circl complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), 17 U.S.C. § 512, and responds to valid notifications of alleged copyright infringement submitted in accordance with this policy. We reserve the right to remove or restrict access to content that appears to infringe the intellectual property rights of others, and to terminate the accounts of repeat infringers.

2. Filing a Copyright Infringement Notice

If you believe that content on Circl infringes your copyright, you (or your authorized agent) may submit a written notice to our designated DMCA agent. To be valid, your notice must include:

1. A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf;
2. Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed (or a representative list, if multiple works are covered by one notice);
3. Identification of the material claimed to be infringing, and information reasonably sufficient to let Circl locate it (e.g. a profile URL, post link or in-app username);
4. Your contact information — name, postal address, telephone number and email address;
5. A statement that you have a good faith belief that the use of the material is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law;
6. A statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in the notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on their behalf.

Notices missing any of these elements may not be actionable under the DMCA and could delay our response.

3. Where to Send Your Notice

4. What Happens After a Notice Is Received

Upon receipt of a valid notice, Circl will:

• Remove or disable access to the allegedly infringing content, typically within a few business days;
• Notify the user who posted the content that it has been removed and why;
• Provide the user with a copy of the notice and information on how to submit a counter-notification, where applicable;
• Document the claim for our repeat infringer records.

5. Counter-Notification

If you believe your content was removed in error or as a result of misidentification, you may submit a counter-notification to dmca@app-circl.com. To be valid, your counter-notification must include:

1. Your physical or electronic signature;
2. Identification of the material that was removed and its location on Circl before removal;
3. A statement, under penalty of perjury, that you have a good faith belief the material was removed as a result of mistake or misidentification;
4. Your name, address, telephone number, and a statement that you consent to the jurisdiction of the relevant federal court, and that you will accept service of process from the person who filed the original notice.

Upon receiving a valid counter-notification, we may forward it to the original complainant. If the complainant does not notify us within a reasonable period that they have filed a court action to restrain the user from engaging in the infringing activity, we may reinstate the content.

6. Repeat Infringer Policy

Circl will, in appropriate circumstances and at its sole discretion, terminate the accounts of users who are found to be repeat infringers of the copyrights of others.

7. False Claims & Misrepresentation

Submitting a false or bad-faith DMCA notice or counter-notification can expose you to liability for damages, including costs and attorneys' fees, under 17 U.S.C. § 512(f). Please make sure you are the rights holder, or authorized to act on their behalf, before filing a notice.

8. Non-US Rights Holders and Users

While this policy is framed around the DMCA, Circl reviews and acts on legitimate copyright complaints from rights holders worldwide, including South African creators and businesses, regardless of the jurisdiction under which the underlying copyright arises.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this DMCA Policy from time to time. Material changes will be communicated through the app or by email. Continued use of Circl after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

10. Related Policies

This DMCA Policy is part of Circl's broader user agreement. Please also review our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, Community Guidelines and Child Safety Standards Policy.

11. Contact

For copyright-related matters, use the designated agent contact in Section 3. For all other questions:

This DMCA Policy reflects Circl's operational copyright procedures. It does not constitute legal advice. We recommend reviewing it with qualified counsel familiar with the DMCA and applicable South African copyright law prior to public release.