DMCA Safe Harbor Policy
1. Overview
IT Influentials, LLC, operator of Patriot University (“we,” “us,” or “our”), respects
the intellectual property rights of others and expects our users to do the same. In
accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (“DMCA”), codified at
17 U.S.C. § 512,
we have implemented procedures for receiving written notification of claimed copyright
infringement and for processing such claims in accordance with the law.
This DMCA Safe Harbor Policy outlines our policies and procedures for addressing allegations
of copyright infringement occurring on our services, platforms, and websites.
2. Designated DMCA Agent
Pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 512(c), IT Influentials, LLC has designated an agent to receive
notifications of claimed infringement. All DMCA notices and counter-notices should be
sent to our Designated Agent:
- Name: Peter Westerman
- Company: IT Influentials, LLC
- Address: 508 Boulevard PL NE, Unit B, Atlanta, GA 30308
- Phone: (415) 577-0086
- Email: dmca@patriot.university
Our Designated Agent information is registered with the U.S. Copyright Office and can be
verified in the
DMCA Designated Agent Directory.
3. Filing a DMCA Takedown Notice
If you believe that your copyrighted work has been copied in a way that constitutes
copyright infringement and is accessible on our service, you may notify our Designated
Agent by providing a written communication that includes substantially the following
information as required by 17 U.S.C. § 512(c)(3):
-
Signature: A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized
to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed. -
Identification of Copyrighted Work: Identification of the copyrighted
work claimed to have been infringed, or, if multiple copyrighted works are covered
by a single notification, a representative list of such works. -
Identification of Infringing Material: Identification of the material
that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity and that
is to be removed or access to which is to be disabled, and information reasonably
sufficient to permit us to locate the material (such as URL(s) or other specific
location information). -
Contact Information: Information reasonably sufficient to permit us to
contact you, such as an address, telephone number, and, if available, an email address. -
Good Faith Statement: A statement that you have a good faith belief
that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright
owner, its agent, or the law. -
Accuracy Statement: A statement that the information in the notification
is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that you are authorized to act on behalf of
the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.
A sample notice form is available on the U.S. Copyright Office website at
https://www.copyright.gov/512/.
Warning: Misrepresentations in a DMCA notice may result in liability
for damages, including costs and attorneys’ fees, under 17 U.S.C. § 512(f). Please
ensure that the material you are reporting genuinely infringes your copyright before
submitting a notice.
4. Our Response to Takedown Notices
Upon receipt of a valid DMCA takedown notice that substantially complies with the
requirements above, IT Influentials, LLC will:
-
Act Expeditiously: Promptly remove or disable access to the material
claimed to be infringing. -
Notify the Poster: Take reasonable steps to promptly notify the user
who posted the material that it has been removed or disabled. -
Document the Notice: Maintain records of the takedown notice in
accordance with applicable law. -
Repeat Infringer Policy: Take appropriate action against users who
are repeat infringers, which may include termination of their access.
We will not be held liable for the good-faith removal or disabling of access to material
claimed to be infringing, even if the material is not ultimately found to be infringing,
so long as we act in accordance with the DMCA procedures.
5. Filing a Counter-Notice
If you believe that material you posted was removed or disabled by mistake or
misidentification, you may file a counter-notice with our Designated Agent. Your
counter-notice must include substantially the following information as required by
17 U.S.C. § 512(g)(3):
- Signature: Your physical or electronic signature.
-
Identification of Material: Identification of the material that has
been removed or to which access has been disabled and the location at which the material
appeared before it was removed or access to it was disabled. -
Good Faith Statement: A statement under penalty of perjury that you
have a good faith belief that the material was removed or disabled as a result of mistake
or misidentification of the material to be removed or disabled. -
Consent to Jurisdiction: Your name, address, and telephone number, and
a statement that you consent to the jurisdiction of the Federal District Court for the
judicial district in which your address is located (or if your address is outside of the
United States, for any judicial district in which IT Influentials, LLC may be found), and
that you will accept service of process from the person who provided the original DMCA
notice or an agent of such person.
A sample counter-notice form is available on the U.S. Copyright Office website at
https://www.copyright.gov/512/.
Warning: Misrepresentations in a DMCA counter-notice may result in
liability for damages, including costs and attorneys’ fees, under 17 U.S.C. § 512(f).
6. Our Response to Counter-Notices
Upon receipt of a valid DMCA counter-notice that substantially complies with the
requirements above, IT Influentials, LLC will:
-
Notify the Original Complainant: Promptly provide the person who
submitted the original takedown notice with a copy of the counter-notice. -
Restore Access: Replace the removed material or cease disabling access
to it in not less than 10, nor more than 14, business days following receipt of the
counter-notice, unless our Designated Agent first receives notice from
the original complainant that they have filed a court action seeking a court order to
restrain the alleged infringer from engaging in infringing activity relating to the
material on our system or network.
7. Repeat Infringer Policy
In accordance with 17 U.S.C. § 512(i)(1)(A) and as part of our commitment to protecting
copyright holders’ rights, IT Influentials, LLC has adopted and reasonably implemented a
policy that provides for the termination, in appropriate circumstances, of users who are
repeat infringers.
A “repeat infringer” includes, but is not limited to:
- Users who have received multiple valid DMCA takedown notices
- Users who have repeatedly posted infringing material despite warnings
- Users who have been determined by a court to be infringers
We reserve the right to terminate access to our services for any user who infringes
upon the copyrights of others, in our sole discretion, with or without notice.
8. Standard Technical Measures
IT Influentials, LLC accommodates and does not interfere with standard technical measures
used by copyright owners to identify or protect copyrighted works, as defined in
17 U.S.C. § 512(i)(1)(B), provided such measures:
- Have been developed pursuant to a broad consensus of copyright owners and service
providers in an open, fair, voluntary, multi-industry standards process - Are available to any person on reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms
- Do not impose substantial costs on service providers or substantial burdens on their
systems or networks
9. Good Faith Requirement
All DMCA notices and counter-notices must be submitted in good faith. Under
17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who knowingly materially misrepresents that:
- Material or activity is infringing, or
- Material or activity was removed or disabled by mistake or misidentification
shall be liable for any damages, including costs and attorneys’ fees, incurred by the
alleged infringer, the copyright owner or its licensee, or the service provider, who is
injured by such misrepresentation.
Note on civic education content: Much of the content on Patriot University
— including accountability profiles, analysis of public records, and civic education
materials — is likely to qualify as fair use under 17 U.S.C. § 107 and/or constitutionally
protected commentary on matters of public concern. We will vigorously defend our right to
publish such content and will seek sanctions and damages under § 512(f) against any party
that submits bad-faith takedown notices targeting lawful civic discourse.
10. Limitations & Disclaimers
No Duty to Monitor
IT Influentials, LLC has no obligation to monitor content posted by users or to actively
seek facts or circumstances indicating infringing activity, except to the extent required
by law.
No Legal Advice
This DMCA Safe Harbor Policy is provided for informational purposes only and does not
constitute legal advice. If you have questions about copyright law or the DMCA, you
should consult with an attorney.
Modifications
We reserve the right to modify this policy at any time. Any changes will be effective
immediately upon posting the updated statement on our website with a revised “Last Updated”
date. Material changes will be highlighted at the top of the page for 30 days.
Other Rights and Remedies
This policy does not limit any other rights or remedies that IT Influentials, LLC may
have under applicable law, nor does it limit the rights of copyright owners to pursue
legal action against alleged infringers.
11. Additional Resources
For more information about the DMCA and your rights under copyright law, please visit:
- U.S. Copyright Office DMCA Resources:
https://www.copyright.gov/512/ - DMCA Designated Agent Directory:
https://dmca.copyright.gov/ - Copyright Office Fair Use Index:
https://www.copyright.gov/fair-use/
12. Contact Information
For questions about this DMCA Safe Harbor Policy or to report copyright infringement,
please contact our Designated Agent using the contact information above, or:
- DMCA inquiries: dmca@patriot.university
- General legal: legal@patriot.university
- Mailing address: IT Influentials, LLC — 508 Boulevard PL NE, Unit B, Atlanta, GA 30308
- Phone: (609) 921-2903