Definitions used in this comparison
DMCA service comparison glossary
These definitions explain the measures used in our evidence register and ranking models.
- DMCA takedown request
- A copyright-removal request sent to the relevant service or platform. A submission is a request, not a verified outcome.
- Google Search delisting
- Removal of a result from Google Search in the recorded copyright process. It does not establish deletion by the website hosting the content.
- Recorded owner ID
- The copyright-owner identifier in Google’s reporting data. It may correspond to a person, an alias or a corporate rights holder; it is not a verified unique paying creator.
- URL occurrence
- A URL counted within a request. Repeated URLs can occur across requests, so this is not a count of unique files.
- Mean removals per owner
- Total removed URL occurrences divided by distinct recorded owner IDs within the service grouping. Large records, client mix and tenure affect this average.
- Median removals per owner
- The middle owner removal total after ordering the owner records. It provides a second view of the distribution alongside the mean.
- Removal percentage
- Removed divided by all submitted URL occurrences, multiplied by 100. The denominator includes removed, not in index, no action and pending.
- Not in index
- The Google status category for a submitted URL not found in the index. This comparison does not add it to the removed numerator.
- Partial Google score
- The historical Google model uses a 75-point subtotal. It is separate from the proposed current platform model, which caps Google at 5% and remains unscored.
- Reporting association
- A selected service filed Google requests for a matching owner name. This does not establish a current contract, exclusivity, a review or an endorsement.
- Comparative switch evidence
- A matched identity and dated account naming previous and new providers, with a documented comparative experience. A change in reporting dates alone does not qualify.
- Measured platform turnaround
- Elapsed time between a valid submission and a verified outcome, grouped by destination. It needs outcome timestamps, sample sizes and visibility of unresolved cases.
Google copyright report definitions · Full calculation method