SnapViewer › Copyright, DMCA and Profile Opt-out

Copyright, DMCA and Profile Opt-out

SnapViewer stores no Snapchat files, but we take copyright and people's wishes seriously. Rights holders can send a notice, and account owners can ask us to stop showing their public profile, by emailing [email protected].

Does SnapViewer host copyrighted files?

No. SnapViewer does not upload, store or host any snap. When someone uses the tool, our server reads the public profile page and creates links that expire after one hour; the files stream from Snapchat's servers and no copy is kept.

What we control is whether our tool processes a given profile or snap. Blocked profiles and snaps get HTTP 451 from our tool, and links already handed out for them stop working.

How do I stop my profile from appearing on SnapViewer?

Email [email protected] with the subject "Opt-out" and your Snapchat username. To confirm the account is yours, we will send you a short code to add to your public profile bio for a few minutes, or you can write from an address shown on the profile.

  1. We confirm receipt and send the code.
  2. You add it to your bio and tell us.
  3. We add your username to our blocklist and reply to confirm.
  4. From then on the tool says the profile asked not to be shown, and old download links stop working.

Opting out of SnapViewer does not change anything on Snapchat. To make your content private for everyone, change who can view your Story in Snapchat's settings.

A notice should contain the elements set out in section 512 of the U.S. Copyright Act. The U.S. Copyright Office introduces them like this.

“The notice-and-takedown system allows rightsholders to send a notification to the online service provider regarding infringing material that appears on the service provider’s system. To be effective, a notice must contain substantially the following information:”

  1. Your physical or electronic signature (a typed full name is fine in an email).
  2. The work you own: its title, and a link to the original if it is online.
  3. The Snapchat links (snapchat.com/@username or snapchat.com/spotlight/…) that our tool should stop processing.
  4. Your contact details: name, email address, and the rights holder you act for.
  5. A statement that you believe in good faith that the use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent or the law.
  6. A statement that the notice is accurate and, under penalty of perjury, that you are the owner or authorized to act for the owner.

The full legal wording is in 17 U.S.C. 512.

What happens after SnapViewer receives a notice?

  1. We confirm receipt and check the notice is complete.
  2. If something is missing, we tell you what to add.
  3. We block the listed profile or Spotlight snaps in our tool.
  4. We reply to confirm the block.

Because SnapViewer has no user accounts and no uploads, there is no uploader on our side to notify. Anyone who believes something was blocked by mistake can write to the same address.

Should I also report the content to Snapchat?

Yes, if you want it removed from Snapchat itself. Blocking it on SnapViewer does not delete it from Snapchat; Snap runs its own reporting process at help.snapchat.com.

What if a notice is false?

Sending a knowingly false notice has legal consequences under 17 U.S.C. 512(f). If you are unsure whether a use infringes, consider getting legal advice first; the Copyright Office's DMCA overview is a good starting point.

Frequently asked questions

Does SnapViewer store copies of snaps?

No. Files stream from Snapchat's servers through links that expire after one hour.

Where do I send a DMCA notice or an opt-out?

Email [email protected] with the subject "Copyright notice" or "Opt-out".

Will a notice remove the snap from Snapchat?

No. It stops our tool from processing it. To remove it from Snapchat, use Snap's own reporting process.

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