Finding your work copied is infuriating — but copyright is yours to enforce, and most cases never reach a courtroom. Here’s how to handle it, in order.
1. Gather your evidence first
Screenshot the copy (with the URL and date), and pull together proof you created the original first — dated files, drafts, your published version. This is the foundation for everything that follows.
2. Send a cease-and-desist letter
A firm, polite letter setting out that you own the copyright, that they’ve copied it, and what you want them to do (stop, remove it, and sometimes pay) resolves a great many cases on its own. You don’t need a solicitor to send one.
3. Send a takedown notice to the platform
If the copy is on a website, social platform, marketplace or app store, you usually don’t even need to deal with the copier — the host must act on a valid copyright complaint. Almost every major platform (Google, Meta, YouTube, Amazon, Etsy, web hosts) has a copyright/IP complaint form. File it, and the content typically comes down fast.
4. Claim in court if you must
If the copying is serious and they won’t stop, you can bring a claim for an injunction (a court order to stop) and damages. The Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) has a small-claims track for straightforward, lower-value copyright disputes — designed to be usable without a lawyer.
Start with the letter and the takedown. They’re free, fast, and usually enough — the tools to stand up for your work yourself.
Last reviewed: June 2026 · For use in England & Wales. eLitigant is a Community Interest Company (No. 16566612), not a law firm, and does not give legal advice. Always confirm current rules and fees on gov.uk.