DMCA Policy

Our Commitment to Copyright

We take copyright seriously. All the recipes, photos, and written content on Chef Circle are either created by us or used with proper permission. We expect anyone interacting with our site to respect copyright as well.

That said, we're a small operation and sometimes mistakes happen. If you believe we've inadvertently used your copyrighted material without permission, we want to know about it so we can fix the issue.

Filing a DMCA Takedown Notice

If you're a copyright owner (or authorized to act on behalf of one) and believe that content on Chef Circle infringes your copyright, you can submit a takedown notice under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

What to Include in Your Notice

To be valid under the DMCA, your notice must include:

• Your contact information: Full name, mailing address, phone number, and email address
• Identification of your copyrighted work: Describe the copyrighted work that you believe has been infringed. If you're reporting multiple works, you can provide a representative list
• Identification of the infringing material: Provide the URL(s) or specific location of the content you believe is infringing. Be as specific as possible so we can locate it
• A good faith statement: Include 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
• An accuracy statement: Include a statement that the information in your notice is accurate and, under penalty of perjury, that you are authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner
• Your signature: A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or person authorized to act on their behalf

Where to Send Your Notice

Please send your DMCA takedown notice to:

Email: support@Chef Circle.com
Subject Line: DMCA Takedown Notice

Our Response Process

Here's what happens after you send a valid DMCA notice:

• We'll review your notice to ensure it meets DMCA requirements
• If the notice is valid, we'll promptly remove or disable access to the allegedly infringing content
• We'll make a good faith effort to notify the person who posted the content (if applicable)
• We'll typically respond within 5-7 business days, though we aim to act faster for clear-cut cases

Counter-Notification

If your content was removed due to a DMCA notice and you believe the removal was a mistake or that you have the right to use the material, you can file a counter-notification.

What to Include in a Counter-Notification

A valid counter-notification must include:

• Your name, address, phone number, and email
• Identification of the material that was removed and where it appeared before removal
• A statement under penalty of perjury that you have a good faith belief that the material was removed by mistake or misidentification
• A statement that you consent to the jurisdiction of the Federal District Court for the judicial district in which your address is located (or any judicial district in which Chef Circle may be found if you're outside the US)
• A statement that you'll accept service of process from the person who submitted the original DMCA notice
• Your physical or electronic signature

Send counter-notifications to the same email address: support@Chef Circle.com with the subject line "DMCA Counter-Notification"

Repeat Infringers

We reserve the right to terminate access to Chef Circle for users who repeatedly infringe on others' copyrights. If we receive multiple valid DMCA notices about the same user, we may take action including permanent removal of their content or blocking their access.

Misrepresentation

Please be aware that under Section 512(f) of the DMCA, anyone who knowingly makes a material misrepresentation in a DMCA notice or counter-notification may be liable for damages. In plain English: don't file false claims. There can be serious legal consequences.

Fair Use and Recipe Copyright

It's worth noting that recipes themselves (lists of ingredients and basic instructions) generally aren't protected by copyright in the US, though the specific expression of a recipe (the detailed writing, photos, and creative elements) is protected.

If you believe someone has copied your original recipe writing or photos, a DMCA notice may be appropriate. If the issue is that someone made the same dish using similar ingredients, that's typically not a copyright violation.

We're not lawyers and this isn't legal advice—just a general heads-up about how recipe copyright typically works.

Questions Before Filing?

If you're not sure whether to file a DMCA notice or have questions about the process, feel free to email us at support@Chef Circle.com first. Sometimes issues can be resolved through informal communication without needing to go through the formal DMCA process.

We're reasonable people and if we've genuinely used something we shouldn't have, we're happy to take it down or give proper credit once we know about it.

Protecting Your Own Rights

If you're a content creator wondering how to protect your work:

• Watermark your photos if you're concerned about unauthorized use
• Include copyright notices on your original content
• Register particularly important works with the US Copyright Office for stronger legal protection
• Regularly search for your content online to catch unauthorized uses

Changes to This Policy

We may update this DMCA policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated date at the top.

The bottom line: We respect copyright and want to do the right thing. If you believe we're using your copyrighted work without permission, let us know through the proper channels and we'll address it promptly.