Google Broke My Heart
For years, I thought of Google as a trustworthy helper on the Web. Especially where it mattered most, removing pirated copies of my books from Google search results. After publishing a new book, I would monitor the search results and file a DMCA notice with Google whenever the inevitable pirated copies of my book were listed. Google always was very helpful in this regard, swiftly removing any pirated books asap. No hassle, no hoops, just immediate and direct relief from Google.
Welcome to 2026..
Recently, I asked Google to remove a pirated copy of my book from their search index. As usual, I filled out the obligatory DMCA report and sent it in, hopeful that it was just a matter of time before the copyright infringement was dealt with by the trustworthy and very capable Google search team.
Unfortunately, that is not what happened. Instead of simply de-indexing the search result, like they do for so many other items, Google refused to acknowledge that I was the author of the book. After receiving my DMCA complaint, they replied:
We are unsure whether you are authorized to submit a copyright removal request for the content in question. Only the copyright owner or their authorized representative can submit a copyright removal request. Please note that you could be liable for damages (including costs and attorneys’ fees) if you falsely claim that content is copyright infringing. […]
Okay, so ..not the response I was hoping for.. basically a complete denial of my identity and thinly veiled threat of legal action for having the audacity to report the pirated content in the first place. But no problem, maybe they have a new process for validating DMCA requests. So I replied back asap asking how to prove my identity:
Yes it is me, Jeff Starr. I am the author of the book in question. Please let me know if any further information is needed, thank you.
I didn’t expect that email to do much, other than prompt Google to explain how to prove my identity, so that they would take action and stop promoting the pirated copy of my book in their search results. After a couple more days of waiting, The Google Team replied back:
It is unclear to us how you came to own the copyright for the content in question, because you do not appear to be the creator of the content. […] please explain further the basis for your claim of copyright ownership.
Without acknowledging my previous reply regarding identity, now they are questioning my copyright ownership. Without explaining how to prove copyright ownership, they simply throw another hurdle at me, asking me to “explain further the basis for your claim of copyright ownership”. At this point, I am stressed, exhausted, and feeling very frustrated. Where was the friendly Google from days past?
Holding out hope..
Okay I thought, gotta really step this up and prove to The Google Team that I am who I claim, and that I am in fact the author of the book and thus own the copyright. But I wasn’t sure how to do this, because again they did not explain “how” to do so. Did they want a scan of my driver’s license? Blood sample? DNA test results? I mean, why the mystery? If some sort of identity or proof is required for Google to take action, shouldn’t it have been required on the DMCA form?
Feeling frustrated and stressed about the apparent run-around and lack of concern, I replied back with plenty of evidence and clues that yes, I am Jeff Starr, and yes, the book belongs to me, and thus I own the copyright. Message truncated for clarity.
My name is Jeff Starr. I am the author of the book […]. As explained in the filed report, Google is promoting copyright infringement of my book in its search results.
How can I prove my identity? Please explain what I need to do in order to get help with this copyright infringement. Surely there must be some protocol for proving identity/ownership, please let me know what that is, what are your requirements for taking action against someone who is violating my copyright?
If it helps, here are my book-related websites, which are all owned and authored by me, Jeff Starr: [..List of like five websites, including the site for the pirated book..]
You can verify that these sites are owned by me, simply check my account via Google Search Console, where I have verified that I am the owner for each of the above sites. My Search Console is associated with this same email account from which I am replying to your email. […]
I am a well-known author and web developer in the WordPress community. You can find me on social media, I have a list of my social-media channels pinned on my X account (first displayed post): https://x.com/perishable
The reported copyright infringement is costing me money and time. I am very frustrated and stressed because of Google’s apparent lack of concern. Please help, let me know what you need from me in order to remove the stolen book from your search results.
At this point, I was feeling ignored and betrayed by Google, who for many years proved a trusted ally. Apparently something has changed, as the friendly corporate giant who once helped small publishers and content creators now refused to even acknowledge their existence. As if, surely you could not be who you claim, an author and small book publisher looking for our help. After all, We are Google — a massive organization that uses your content to fill our search results and pay our salaries.
Heartbroken..
Even after spending much time and heartache trying to get Google’s help, I held out hope. Hope that Google was still the benevolent helper that I once knew, years ago.
Finally after two more days of nervous anticipation, Google finally replied to my lengthy probably desperate sounding email that was full of personal details and proofs of my identity and copyright ownership. A small surge of adrenaline as I clicked to hear back from The Google Team (emphasis mine):
Hello,
Thanks for reaching out to us.
At this time, Google has decided not to take action on the following URLs: […]
We encourage you to resolve any disputes directly with the owner of the website in question. Visit https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/9109 to learn how to contact a site’s webmaster and request a change. If you pursue legal action against this site that results in the removal of the material, our search results will display this change after we next crawl the site.
If the webmaster makes these changes and you need us to refresh outdated content, please submit your request using our Refresh Outdated Content Tool.
Regards,
The Google Team
And there it was. A simple DMCA request trying to remove copyright infringement from search results completely and utterly shrugged off by Google.
Immediately my heart sank. And I knew that something had changed at Google’s core. The friendly corporate giant no longer would even deign to consider cries for help from the little guy. The little guy being me, the little guy with a broken heart.
Perishable Press is operated by Jeff Starr, a professional web developer and book author with two decades of experience.
Here you will find posts about web development, WordPress, security, and 
25 responses to “Google Broke My Heart”
Sorry to hear that… Yeah, Google is not that “Don’t be evil” company anymore.
I’ve never had to contact Google for these cases, but maybe you could share the e-mail you are using to communicate with them? I’d be happy to send them a message too if it helps. Or report the link too, I don’t know.
I appreciate it but honestly save your time. They just do not care about people. Apparently they need all the pirated books they can get to train their hungry AI models. No longer worth the effort to write books.
To me it almost sounds like LLM (“AI”) responses. Or, indeed, like they just don’t care as long as they can train their LLMs.
You learned the hard truth though: big tech us in it for the money, and they sell your skin in a heartbeat. You see it in many ways happening at Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft…
We need show these companies the door. We have the power. Delete their services, stop using their software. We pay with our data, so we take our data away.
I know I will…
In any case, keep writing. We need real writers more then ever.
Best regards
Sorry to hear this, definitely frustating.
What I recommend is that you file the DMCA with the web host and with the infringing site’s domain name registrar. They may be responsive and may get the site taken down.
Your other option after that would be to speak with a qualified IP attorney about filing a lawsuit to get the infringing content taken down.
Thank you, Bill. I appreciate the ideas. I haven’t had much luck in the past dealing with web hosts and registrars, they seem to care even less than Google. I will look into hiring an IP attorney. Not much budget for such luxury, but maybe there’s something out there that I can afford.
Your lament went viral on Hacker News. The consensus is to talk to an IP lawyer.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46505518
Great advice wish I could afford it.
I was away from the Internet for quite some time involuntarily. I had the password for my Gmail account, still do. But they want an OTP from my old cell phone number, which I also have no access to. You can type my old email address into Google and my frippin picture will show up but Google is like so what who gives a rats fart. Google Plus account, pictures, contacts, voice and text messages, archived company’s projects all gone.
Wow, no fair Google! That ain’t right.
Well!
The truth about GOOGLE finally becomes obvious. As if this was unexpected of them, or of any other multi-BILLION-dollar corporation.
I started distrusting GOOGLE when they first started prioritizing “sponsored” links well above everyone else’s, and even pushed many well-established sites way down the SERPs. GOOGLE has historically been all about big money and profits for itself, just wasn’t so apparent to many people those years ago.
When they started pushing a couple of my formerly well-established sites down the rabbithole, I naturally got very upset and wondered why.
The same sort of things were also happening on YAHOO searches. How many business-related emails I was not receiving, or were summarily put in the “trash” – automatically!
I simply do not trust any of them anymore, and especially in this day and age of “A.I.-everything”.
Very sorry to hear this development, but . . . I can not say that it was not expected to happen, sooner or later.
These big corporate behemoths are big and satisfied now, that they are large enough to be “the elephant in the room”.
– Jim S. Smith
(YES, it’s me again.)
Great to hear from you again, Jim.
I recall reading some time ago that Google deep-sixed their original slogan, “Don’t be evil.”
Rhetorical question: Why would they do that?
I hope you are doing well.
Jeff Starr’s experience highlights the challenges content creators face with DMCA requests on Google. Despite providing clear evidence through Search Console, official websites, and social media, Google still refused to remove the pirated book from search results. This situation emphasizes the importance of maintaining proper copyright documentation and understanding how large platforms handle copyright disputes.
There is absolutely no shame in starting a GoFundMe to help pay for an IP attorney. In addition, it provides a very public platform from which you can involve the news media to report on the case from your perspective. I have done this personally on an unrelated matter and was not only funded within 24 hours (it was a multi-kilobuck FOIA request) but my story was front page news locally.
Put your GoFundMe together.
Blog about the reason why you’re doing this.
Find several hungry investigative reporters.
Sic ’em on the story.
You are resource constrained. So was I. That doesn’t mean you don’t deserve justice; in fact, this pushes people’s buttons. You’re going to get donations. I’ve got a few bucks for you as soon as it’s set up. Email me.
haha cry more copyright cuck
I give most of my work and projects away for free, open source with no restrictions.
Wasting so much time on pirated content is your first mistake, falling for the myth that every copy is a lost sale. Your stuff is available via torrent, freely.
Secondly, you don’t need to prove your identity, you need to prove you own the copyright of those materials – you were talking past them, not giving them what they asked for.
How do I “prove” that I own the copyright? I asked them this and they ignored it.
I can feel your pain. It’s not 100% related, but few years ago Youtube (Google) shutdown my ~8 years old YouTube account without any explanation and reason.
When you can’t reach anyone or get an explanation on why you got banned it hurts to much. Specially after investing so many years into it.
Did you try finding out the hosting and domain register of that website, and sending complain directly to them?
If it’s not DMCA-ignored hosting, you might have success.
IANAL, IANYL, but I’m pretty sure this is the issue.
You see, Google can lose its ‘safe harbor’ if it doesn’t act upon requests like yours, but ONLY IF such requests are in a COMPLIANT FORMAT, which yours don’t appear to have been.
Go to the URL below, and do Ctrl-F to search for and go down to ‘(3) Elements of Notification’.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/512
Thank you, I appreciate your feedback.
Like many other folks, I used Google’s own DMCA form to send my infringement report. So I assume the format of the Google-provided form was compliant. All required form fields were complete. Are you suggesting that I should send them some other form, or that Google’s own form is somehow not compliant?
Keep in mind we’re talking about sending a typical DMCA takedown request, which commonly is used by many people to remove content from Google’s search results. People want to remove something from the search results, so they fill out the Google DMCA form and wait for Google to take action (or not take action). Very routine stuff, all directed and handled by Google via their own form.
I guess what I’m saying is that, if I missed something format-wise or non-compliant whatever, then everyone who uses the Google-provided form missed it as well. Because Google provides the same form for everyone. So the form’s format is either compliant for everyone, or not compliant for everyone.
I hope you don’t mind my criticism – it is just the way I feel – but I feel looking at your reply that it’s argumentum ad populum. Everyone uses this form, therefore…
I’ve written you a sample DMCA report and posted it as an HN comment:
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46530779
It’s a lot more work, but it’s worth noting that Google really is heavily obligated to respect DMCA reports AS LONG AS THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THE STATUTE REQUIRES. If the report doesn’t, then they are free to ignore it. (IANAL, IANYL.)
So by including everything and being very legalistic, you increase the likelihood of getting them to respond.
Thank you, your custom DMCA report looks very well-constructed and complete. I have downloaded a copy of the form and will try to get it filled out and send it in. I very much appreciate your help and insight regarding this issue.
Also please check the definition of ad populum. My statement regarding Google’s DMCA form was not an appeal to the consensus or popularity, etc. It’s simple logic: If this is true, then that is true. If it is true that Google provides the same form for all users. Then it must be true that all users are using the same possibly ill-formatted form. The logic refers to a group of people, true. But the argument itself contains no appeal to consensus.
In any case, I am grateful for your help. Cheers, Molly.