The timeline, stage by stage
- Notice arrivesDay 0: a takedown notice reaches the provider's designated agent (§ 512(c)(3)).
- Material comes downThe provider removes it "expeditiously" and "promptly" tells you (§ 512(c)(1)(C), § 512(g)(2)(A)).
- You counter-notifyWhenever you choose: the statute sets no deadline (§ 512(g)(3)).
- The clock startsThe 10–14 business-day count runs from the provider's receipt of your counter-notice (§ 512(g)(2)(C)).
- Claimant gets a copy"Promptly", with word that the material will be restored in 10 business days (§ 512(g)(2)(B)).
- Lawsuit windowBusiness days 1–10: the claimant can file for a court order against you and notify the provider's agent (§ 512(g)(2)(C)).
- Restored, or to courtRestored on business days 10–14; if a suit was notified first, there is no restoration and the dispute moves to court.
The short answer
The only fixed number in 17 U.S.C. § 512(g)(2) is restoration "not less than 10, nor more than 14, business days following receipt". Removal ("expeditiously"), forwarding your counter-notice ("promptly") and sending one have no day count.
The clock starts when the provider receives your counter-notice, not when the material came down. What it must contain, and its risks: how a DMCA counter-notice works.
What "business days" means
The statute doesn't define them. The ordinary reading is weekdays excluding public holidays, and YouTube specifies US business days. "Following receipt" means the day of receipt isn't counted.
| Counter-notice received | Restoration window (weekdays, skipping US federal holidays) |
|---|---|
| Monday 1 March 2027 | Earliest Monday 15 March, latest Friday 19 March (14 to 18 calendar days) |
| Wednesday 23 December 2026 | Earliest Friday 8 January 2027, latest Thursday 14 January (Christmas Day and New Year's Day skipped: 16 to 22 calendar days) |
So 10 business days is two calendar weeks at best, closer to three over a holiday. A provider outside the US, or with its own policy, may count differently: its help page is the authority.
Is there a deadline to send a counter-notice?
Not in the statute: § 512(g)(3) lists the contents and § 512(g)(2) the provider's duties, but neither sets a time limit. Nor does YouTube's counter-notification page. Timing still matters:
- The clock starts on receipt, so every day you wait, the material stays down.
- A provider's form or policy can add conditions the statute doesn't. Check its help page.
- Evidence goes stale. Snapshots, server logs and emails are easier to gather now than in six months.
- Strikes have their own clocks. A YouTube strike expires after 90 days if you complete Copyright School, which can be a reason not to file. How strikes work.
The claimant's time to file a lawsuit
Does not stop restoration
- An angry reply.
- A letter threatening to sue.
Stops restoration
- Filing an action seeking a court order to restrain you from the infringing activity…
- …and the provider's designated agent receiving notice of that filing before restoration.
- YouTube: "evidence of legal action". GitHub: "a copy of a valid legal complaint filed in a court of competent jurisdiction".
The 10–14 days only decide whether the material goes back up. They are not a deadline on the right to sue: under 17 U.S.C. § 507(b) a civil action must be commenced within three years after the claim accrued. Restoration is not a verdict, and you can still be sued after it.
How platforms handle the timeline
Each provider's own wording at the time of writing. If its page now says something different, its page wins.
| Provider | What its own policy says |
|---|---|
| YouTube | The claimant has "10 US business days" to respond with evidence of legal action. Otherwise the video is reinstated, unless you deleted it. |
| Google Search | Google "may reinstate the link pursuant to sections 512(g)(2) and (3)". It publishes no timeline for this. |
| GitHub | The copyright owner has "10-14 days" (not stated as business days) to provide a filed legal complaint, otherwise content is re-enabled. |
| Hostinger | Restores "not less than ten (10), nor more than fourteen (14), business days" after receipt, unless told a court action was filed. |
| Cloudflare (content it hosts) | Shares the counter-notice with the complainant and gives them 10 days to say they have sued, otherwise the content is restored. |
What happens to a Google Search delisting
The case most site owners are in. Google removes a URL from its results; your page stays online. The § 512(g)(2) clock is written for material stored on a provider's system, but Google accepts Search counter-notices through its counter-notice form and commits to no date. How Google copyright removal works.
- Plan in weeks. The § 512(g) procedure Google cites builds in at least 10 business days.
- Counter every URL. A counter-notice only covers what it lists, and one request, or several, may name more of your URLs than you noticed. A DMCA check lists them, with each URL's removal status.
- Check reinstatement yourself by searching for the URL or inspecting it in Search Console.
While you wait
FAQs
How long does a DMCA counter-notice take?
Under 17 U.S.C. § 512(g)(2)(C), the provider restores the material between 10 and 14 business days after it receives a valid counter-notice, unless the claimant first notifies it of a court action. That is usually two to three calendar weeks.
Is there a deadline to file a DMCA counter-notice?
The statute sets none, and YouTube's counter-notification page doesn't state one. A provider's own policy can still add conditions, and the restoration clock only starts when your counter-notice is received.
Are the 10–14 days business days or calendar days?
Business days in the statute, normally read as weekdays excluding public holidays. YouTube specifies US business days; some providers word it differently, so check the provider's own page.
How long does the claimant have to file a lawsuit after a counter-notice?
To block restoration, they must file an action seeking a court order and notify the provider's designated agent before the restoration date, so within the 10–14 business days. Their general right to sue runs for three years under 17 U.S.C. § 507(b).
Can material be restored sooner than 10 business days?
Not under the § 512(g) procedure, which says no less than 10 business days after receipt. Earlier restoration normally means the claimant withdrew the original notice.
Does the 10–14 day timeline apply to Google Search?
Google says it "may reinstate the link" under § 512(g)(2) and (3) but publishes no timeline for Search. Expect at least the statutory wait, and check the URL yourself.
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