Piracy Shield Help
Protect your intellectual property with automated scanning and DMCA takedown notices.
Quick Start
Configure Settings
Go to Piracy Shield Settings. Add your pen name and legal contact info for DMCA notices.
Run Your First Scan
Click "New Scan", select a published novel, and let the system search for pirated copies.
Review Detections
Review detected URLs. Mark false positives, or select URLs for DMCA notice generation.
Generate & Submit Notices
Create DMCA notices, attest to their accuracy, then submit to Google's Lumen database.
What's in Piracy Shield
Piracy Shield helps you find and take action against pirated copies of your books. Here's what you can do:
Automated Scanning
- Google Search Integration - Searches Google for your book titles on known piracy sites
- Intelligent Matching - Uses your pen name, book titles, and common piracy keywords
- Scheduled Scans - Auto-scan published novels on a configurable schedule
- Confidence Scoring - Each detection includes a confidence score based on match quality
Detection Management
- Detection Dashboard - See all detected piracy URLs with status tracking
- False Positive Marking - Mark legitimate URLs as false positives
- URL Deduplication - Same URLs from different scans are tracked as one detection
- Novel Reassignment - Move detections to a different novel if misattributed
DMCA Notice Generation
- One-Click Notices - Generate structured DMCA takedown notice drafts
- Attestation Workflow - Attest to notice accuracy with digital signature and IP logging
- Google Submission - Copy notices and submit directly to Google's web form
- Status Tracking - Track notice status from draft through confirmed removal
Detection Status Reference
Detections move through these statuses as you take action:
| Status | Meaning | What Happens Next |
|---|---|---|
| New | Just detected, needs review | Mark as false positive, or select for DMCA notice |
| Notice Draft | Included in a draft notice | Complete attestation to move to Notice Generated |
| Notice Generated | Notice attested and ready to submit | Copy notice and submit to Google |
| Submitted | Notice submitted to Google | Wait for Google to process, typically 1-3 weeks |
| Removed | URL removed from search results | Done! URL no longer appears in Google searches |
| False Positive | Verified as not your content | Can be reopened if marked in error |
| Ignored | Skipped (legitimate listing or not worth pursuing) | Can be reopened if you change your mind |
Usage Limits
Piracy Shield uses fixed operational limits while the service is invite-only. These limits control search costs and are not billing plans.
| Feature | Current Limit |
|---|---|
| Daily Scans | 2 scans per day |
| Monthly Notices | 10 notices per month |
| Scan Sources | Google Search |
| Weekly Summary Email | Yes |
Note: Scan counters reset each calendar day. Notice counters reset at the start of each calendar month.
Glossary
- DMCA Notice
- A legal takedown request under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Sent to search engines or hosting providers to remove infringing content.
- Detection
- A URL where your book was found on a known piracy site. May be a direct download link or a page listing your book.
- Lumen Database
- Google's public archive of DMCA notices. When you submit a notice to Google, it appears in Lumen with your contact info.
- Attestation
- Your legal statement that the DMCA notice is accurate. Required before submitting - includes perjury acknowledgment.
- Confidence Score
- A percentage (0-100%) indicating how likely a detection is actually your book. Based on title match, keywords, and domain reputation.
- Resurface
- When a previously-detected URL appears again in a new scan. Increments the "times seen" counter.
DMCA notices are legal documents filed under penalty of perjury. Only submit notices for content you actually own the copyright to. Filing false notices can result in legal liability. Story Signal provides tools but not legal advice - consult an attorney if unsure.