One day, we logged into our Google AdSense account and noticed something alarming — all our ads were gone.
After checking the Policy Center, we discovered that a DMCA takedown request had been filed against our site. Without prior warning, our earnings went to zero overnight. This article shares our real experience of how we disputed the DMCA, contacted Google, and finally got our AdSense ads back online.
If you’re facing a similar issue, this guide will show you exactly what to do — with real email examples, forms, and timelines.
Note: My only intention in writing this article is to be helpful. I don’t expect anything in return — if it helps you solve your problem, that’s more than enough for me.
Our Experience With a Fake DMCA Takedown and How We Recovered AdSense
Step 1 – Check the AdSense Policy Center
Login to AdSense → Account → Policy Center
You’ll likely see something like:
“Your site is not currently serving ads due to DMCA content violation.”
Click “View details” to see the allegedly infringing URLs.
In our case, it was a completely false complaint. We wrote the content ourselves.
Step 2 – File a DMCA Counter Notification
Google allows you to dispute a DMCA takedown with a counter-notice form:
Click this (if you dont have a ID number): https://reportcontent.google.com/forms/counter_notice?web-redirect=f&product=websearch
Here is the exact text we used in the form:
“I am the original author of the content at [URL]. The copyright complaint is invalid. The article contains no copied material and is entirely unique. I request the immediate reinstatement of this content and the associated AdSense functionality. I consent to the jurisdiction of the US courts and understand the consequences of this counter-notification.”
Make sure to:
- Include the exact URL(s) being flagged.
- Use your real name and signature.
- Provide a working email and phone.
Step 3 – Post on the AdSense Help Community
We also posted a detailed topic in the official AdSense Help Community.
Our post included:
- A short summary of the DMCA issue.
- A request for a review of our counter-notice.
- The affected site URL.
In our case, a Product Expert responded within 48 hours and escalated the case. That was the turning point.
Step 4 – Wait (1–2 Weeks)
Once you submit the counter-notice, Google legally waits ~10 business days for the original complainant to respond.
If they don’t file a lawsuit, your ads are re-enabled automatically.
Bonus Tip: Include This in the “Additional Details” Section
In the DMCA form, under “Additional information”, we added:
“We suspect this DMCA was submitted in bad faith by a competitor. Please review our site’s original content and take this into consideration. We take copyright seriously and fully comply with Google’s policies.”
In our case, ads were reactivated after 9 days.
We received a final email confirming the status.
- Ads were back.
- No penalties applied.
- Traffic and revenue returned to normal.
Why It Happened – Malicious DMCA by a Competitor
In our case, this wasn’t a genuine copyright issue. We received a takedown as part of a malicious DMCA campaign, likely submitted by a competitor who wanted to harm our website visibility and income.
We confirmed this because:
- The article flagged was 100% written by our own team.
- The complainant used a fake name and no real contact.
- No actual proof or copyrighted material was included.
This is unfortunately becoming a common tactic among unethical competitors — to abuse the DMCA system to silence or damage others.
Lessons Learned
- Don’t panic — this process works if you’re in the right.
- Always write original content and keep backups.
- The AdSense community forum is surprisingly helpful.
- Bookmark the DMCA counter-notice form — you might need it someday.
Useful Resources
Have questions?
If you need help with DMCA, AdSense, or a similar issue, feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mustafa-iyitutuncu/
