How to Deal With OnlyFans Piracy | 6 Steps

As an OnlyFans creator, your content is your product, your passion, and your livelihood. So when your photos and videos are leaked or stolen, it can be a devastating blow. At Minc Law, we understand how overwhelming and upsetting OnlyFans piracy can be. We’re here to empower you with the knowledge and tools to protect your content, prevent leaks, fight back against theft and give you peace of mind. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through proven strategies to safeguard your OnlyFans, provide step-by-step DMCA takedown instructions, and discuss your legal options to hold pirates accountable. You have rights, and we’ll help you enforce them.

OnlyFans piracy is the unauthorized distribution of content creators’ photos and videos. To protect your content from pirates, you should:

1. Watermark your images and videos,
2. Set up leak alerts,
3. Trap the trolls,
4. Enlist the help of your subscribers,
5. File DMCA takedown requests, and
6. Take legal action against infringers.

What is OnlyFans Piracy?

OnlyFans piracy, also known as “leaking” or “content theft”, is the distribution of OnlyFans creators’ photos, videos, and other exclusive content without the creator’s consent. This stolen content is often spread on social media, discussion forums, file sharing sites, and other adult platforms. The pirates may even create an account to impersonate creators, defraud fans, and steal subscribers from real accounts. They may operate anonymously or under fake names, making them difficult to identify and stop.

There are a few common ways OnlyFans leaks can happen:

• A subscriber downloads or screen records your content and shares it
• A subscriber’s account is hacked and your content is stolen and leaked by the hacker
• You accidentally share an image or link publicly
• Fake accounts impersonate you and scam your fans
• You become the target of a professional content scraping operation that steals and publishes your content

No matter how it happens, OnlyFans piracy is a pervasive and devastating problem. An estimated 50-70% of paid OnlyFans content ends up leaking online, according to Sixth House Media.

For creators, the impact goes far beyond losing income from potential subscribers accessing stolen content instead of paying for it. Piracy is an intimate violation that can inflict serious emotional distress. Your privacy is invaded, your boundaries are disregarded, and your sense of safety and control is shattered. Some creators face stalking, harassment, and even physical threats after a leak. Others are doxed, with their real names, locations, and personal information exposed alongside their explicit content.

There can be professional ramifications to leaked content, too. Creators have lost their jobs, scholarships, and housing after their OnlyFans content was discovered by employers, schools, or family members. The unfortunate stigma surrounding adult content creation means piracy can tarnish your reputation and limit your future opportunities.

The scope of the damage is often hard to quantify because stolen content spreads so quickly and widely online. Once your photos or videos are posted somewhere other than OnlyFans, they can be downloaded and re-uploaded to countless other sites, making them difficult to scrub from the internet entirely.

OnlyFans content theft is not only a personal violation, it’s also a serious crime. When someone leaks or redistributes your photos and videos without permission, they are committing copyright infringement and violating your intellectual property rights. Depending on your state’s laws and the person’s online actions, their behavior may constitute criminal harassment, stalking, or invasion of privacy.

Unfortunately, many subscribers and content thieves either don’t understand or don’t care that their actions are illegal and causing real harm. They feel entitled to access creators’ content for free and face no real consequences for stealing and sharing it. This widespread culture of piracy and lack of accountability makes it challenging for individual creators to prevent leaks on their own.

But you are not powerless against OnlyFans piracy, and you don’t have to fight this battle alone. In the rest of this guide, I’ll share actionable strategies to protect your content, remove leaks, and hold offenders accountable. We’re here to help you assert your rights.

6 Proven Strategies to Prevent OnlyFans Leaks & Protect Your Content

While no prevention method is 100% foolproof, implementing these proactive measures can significantly reduce your risk of OnlyFans leaks and limit the damage if your content is stolen. Think of these as digital self-defense for your content.

1. Watermark your photos and videos prominently. Adding a visible, hard-to-remove watermark with your name, logo, or OnlyFans URL to every piece of content you upload is one of the most effective ways to deter casual piracy and make it harder for thieves to claim your content as their own. Use an app like iWatermark or Watermark.ws to easily batch watermark your content. Even better, place the watermark in the center of your content rather than the corner so it can’t be easily cropped out.
2. Set up Google Alerts, use a reverse image searching tool, and consider signing up for Minc Law’s Digital Risk Protection Service. This allows you to monitor the web for your content and identify leaks quickly. To set up a Google Alert, go to google.com/alerts, enter the terms you wish to be alerted for, select “Show Options” to customize your preferences, and click “Create Alert”. For image monitoring, go to tineye.com, upload a photo, and TinEye will show you where else that image appears online. The Minc Law Digital Risk Protection Service (DRP) provides you with an alerts dashboard and customizable alert emails with 24/7 monitoring on Google, social media, and other public platforms on the surface, deep, and dark web. For more information or to get started with DRP, go to drp.minclaw.com or reach out to our team at drp@minclaw.com.
3. Trap the trolls. If you suspect one or more of your subscribers of intentionally leaking your content, you may want to confirm your suspicions before you kick them off your account. To do so, create several “exclusive” photos or videos, watermark them, and distribute them in batches to your subscribers. Keep track of which subscribers received which pieces of content. Then, using one or more of the alerts systems discussed above, monitor the web for any leaks of the exclusive content. Repeat the process until you have found the culprit or culprits, then kick them off your page. Bye, pirates! No more free content for you!
4. Educate your subscribers about copyright and the harm of leaks. Fans may not realize that sharing your content with non-subscribers is illegal and hurtful. Include a clear copyright notice in your OnlyFans bio and send periodic reminders that your content is for their eyes only. Ask them to be your ally in preventing leaks and to notify you if they see your content posted elsewhere. Building a relationship with your fans can be one of your most powerful tools in the fight against OnlyFans Piracy.
5. Send DMCA takedown notices to remove stolen content. If you discover your content has been leaked, you can send a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) takedown notice to the website or platform hosting the stolen material. This formal legal request requires the owner of the site or platform, or its hosting provider, to remove the infringing content as soon as possible. We’ll cover the DMCA takedown process in more detail later in this guide.
6. Consider taking legal action against infringers. In cases of significant financial harm or malicious intent, you may want to pursue a copyright infringement lawsuit against the individual who stole and distributed your content. While legal action can be costly and time-consuming, it can also provide a powerful deterrent and sense of justice. We’ll discuss your legal options more thoroughly in a later section.

No single tactic is a perfect solution, but combining multiple methods creates a robust defensive shield for your content and can make you a more difficult target for opportunistic leakers. It’s impossible to eliminate piracy risks entirely, but you can definitely reduce them with smart prevention practices. Taking action will also help you feel more in control, which is key to coping with the emotional toll of content theft.

Beyond deterring leaks in the first place, it’s equally important to understand your rights and know how to fight back when OnlyFans piracy does happen. I’ll cover that next.

What Are Your Rights When Someone Steals Your OnlyFans Content?

When you create original photos, videos, and other content for OnlyFans, you automatically own the copyright to that content. This means you have exclusive rights to control how your content is used, shared, and monetized. When someone leaks your OnlyFans content without permission, they are violating your rights as the copyright owner and breaking the law.

Understanding Copyright Law

Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), you have the right to:

• Reproduce and make copies of your content
• Distribute and display your content publicly
• Charge or receive money for your content
• Adapt or make derivative of your content
• Transfer, or “license” your rights to others

When you post content on OnlyFans, you are licensing the content to OnlyFans. Your subscribers do not have any rights to your content or its use through their subscriptions, so anyone who accesses or shares your content without your consent is committing copyright infringement.

It’s important to note that copyright is automatic – you own the copyright to your content as soon as you create it, even if you don’t formally register it. Registering your copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office does provide additional benefits, like the ability to sue for statutory damages, but you can still file DMCA takedown notices and take other action against infringers, even without registration.

OnlyFans’ Terms of Service and Copyright Policy

OnlyFans’ Terms of Service (TOS) reiterates creators’ ownership of the content they upload and states that the only license granted by posting is granted to OnlyFans itself:

“All Content uploaded and posted to the Website belongs to the Creator uploading the Content. We do not claim any ownership to the Content you upload and post, however, by uploading and posting the Content to the Website and agreeing to these Terms of Service you hereby grant to us a non-exclusive limited license to use, reproduce and distribute the Content solely as necessary to provide the Website and Services to you.”

The TOS also requires that users agree not to:

“use the Website for any illegal or unauthorized purpose, including to stalk, harass, invade the privacy of, or obtain personal information from any other user of the Website… reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, resell or exploit any portion of the Website or access to the Website without our express written consent… download, store, reproduce, transmit, display, copy, distribute, exploit or use the Content for any purpose not expressly permitted by these Terms of Service without express written permission from the applicable Creator and us.”

In short, OnlyFans reaffirms that your content is your property and that piracy violates their terms. However, the platform puts the burden on creators to monitor for infringement and file takedown notices. They rely on the DMCA’s “safe harbor” provisions that shield websites from liability for users’ copyright infringement as long as the websites remove infringing content when notified.

That said, OnlyFans does offer some tools and support for creators dealing with piracy. They have a dedicated DMCA team that processes takedown requests and notifies infringing sites. The platform also recently started blocking users from screenshotting creators’ content on iOS devices, though this doesn’t stop screen recording or prevent leaks on other devices.

While OnlyFans could certainly do more to proactively prevent and police leaks, it’s important to remember that the ultimate responsibility lies with the individual content thief. OnlyFans provides the platform and tools, but it’s up to creators to assert their rights against infringers.

Legal Options to Fight OnlyFans Piracy

So what can you actually do when your content is stolen? Your main options are filing a DMCA takedown notice and/or suing the infringer for copyright infringement. I’ll break down the DMCA process in the next section.

A lawsuit might be appropriate if you’re able to identify the person who stole and leaked your content and if the scope of the infringement and damages are large enough to justify the time and expense. You’d need to prove that you own the copyright to the content and that the person distributed it without permission. If you prevail, you could win damages based on your actual losses or statutory damages up to $150,000 per infringed work.

In reality, a lawsuit is often impractical for OnlyFans leaks because the pirates are frequently anonymous and difficult to track down. A DMCA takedown is usually the most efficient option.

How to File DMCA Takedown Notices to Remove Stolen OnlyFans Content

Filing a DMCA takedown notice is the primary way to get infringing content removed from websites, social media, and search results. The DMCA holds websites and internet service providers (ISPs) liable for copyright infringement by their users if they don’t remove infringing content after being properly notified.

To file a DMCA notice, you will need to send a written request to the platform or website hosting the stolen content. The notice must include:

1. Your contact information (name, address, phone number, email)
2. Links to or descriptions of the infringing content and where it’s located
3. A sworn statement that you have a good faith belief the content is being used without permission
4. A sworn statement that the information in your notice is accurate
5. Your physical or electronic signature

Here’s a sample DMCA takedown notice template:

My name is [Your Name] and I am the copyright owner of the content being infringed at:

[URLs or descriptions of where the infringing content is located]

This content is my original work and copyrighted to me. It is being used without my permission by the user [Infringer’s Name/Username].I have a good faith belief that the use of this content is not authorized by law.

I am requesting that you immediately remove or disable access to the infringing content.

I state under penalty of perjury that the information in this notice is accurate and that I am the copyright owner of the content in question.

[Your Name]

[Address]

[Phone Number]

[Email]

To find the right contact information or DMCA agent for the website, check their Terms of Service, Copyright Policy, or a site like DMCA.com’s Directory. If the site has a DMCA form, like Google, you can submit your notice there. Otherwise, email your notice to the designated DMCA agent or copyright contact. You can find another sample DMCA request here.

What to Do If the Platform Doesn’t Respond

If you don’t get a response or the platform refuses to remove the content, your next step is to send the DMCA notice to the website’s hosting provider and/or the infringer’s ISP. You can look up the website’s host and ISP using a WHOIS database search. Then send your DMCA notice to the host’s abuse department or registered DMCA agent.

Under the DMCA, the ISP must remove or disable access to the infringing content or they open themselves up to liability. If the infringer challenges your notice by filing a counter-notice claiming they have a right to use the content, the ISP can restore access to the content unless you file a lawsuit against the alleged infringer within 14 days.

If you still can’t get the content removed, you may want to consult with an attorney about next steps, such as filing for a DMCA subpoena to identify an anonymous infringer or filing a copyright infringement lawsuit. An experienced Internet attorney can advise you on your options and help you navigate the process.

Sending DMCA Notices for Google Search Results

Getting the stolen content removed from the original site is only half the battle. You also need to scrub it from search results so people can’t easily find the leaked photos and videos. Google may remove content from their search results if your content has been removed from the website or if you notify them that the content has been posted in violation of copyright law.

If the content has been removed from the site, you can use Google’s Refresh Outdated Content Tool, found here, to remove the search results from Google. If, however, the content has not been removed, you will need to use Google’s report function for legal violations, found here. You will need to include the URL of the page with your infringing content.

The Emotional Side of DMCA Takedowns

This process can feel overwhelming and frustrating, especially when you’re already reeling from the trauma of having your content stolen. Whatever your emotions may be, it is important to remember that leaks are not your fault and you did nothing wrong by posting your content. The blame lies solely with the content thief who violated your consent and privacy.

Filing DMCA takedown can itself be a traumatic experience because it forces you to comb through the stolen content and confront the scope of the damage. Take care of yourself and lean on your support system during this time. Consider enlisting a friend or hiring an assistant to help with the takedown process if it’s too triggering to handle on your own.

It’s also important to manage your expectations around DMCA takedowns. In many cases, you will be able to get the content removed from the original site and search results. But once something is on the internet, there’s always a chance it could resurface. Pirates may upload your content to the dark web or sites in countries that don’t comply with the DMCA.

The unfortunate reality is that DMCA takedowns are often a game of whack-a-mole. You may need to regularly monitor for new leaks and send multiple rounds of takedown notices. This can be frustrating and demoralizing, but don’t let it discourage you from asserting your rights. You are entitled to control your content and every successful takedown helps contain the spread.

How to Take Legal Action Against OnlyFans Pirates and Leakers Should DMCA Takedowns Fail

If you’re dealing with a particularly egregious case of content theft, you may want to consider taking legal action against the pirate in addition to or instead of filing a DMCA takedown. A lawsuit can help you recover financial losses and deter future infringement. It can also be a way to hold the offender accountable and get a sense of justice.

Depending on the facts and circumstances of your case, you may have a variety of legal claims. For example:

• If the leak included your personal identifying information, like your real name and address, you may be able to sue for invasion of privacy, public disclosure of private facts, or violation of your state’s “revenge porn” law.
• If the pirate hacked your account or computer to obtain the content, they may be criminally and civilly liable under the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
• If the infringer is using your name or likeness to promote the stolen content or scam your fans, and they are financially profiting, they could be liable for false endorsement, unfair competition, and right of publicity violations.
• If the pirate is making money from your content through ads, paid subscriptions, or other means, they may be violating your right to publicity and engaging in unfair competition.
• If your content was stolen and leaked for free, you may be able to recover for copyright infringement.

To win a copyright infringement lawsuit, you need to prove:

1. You own a valid copyright to the content (registration is not required to sue but substantially increases potential damages).
2. The infringer actually copied your content and posted it without permission.
3. The infringement was intentional.
4. You suffered harm as a result of the piracy.

If you prevail, you can recover monetary damages in the form of:

• Actual damages (lost profits and royalties)
• The infringer’s profits attributable to the infringement
• Statutory damages up to $150,000 per infringed work if the copyright was timely registered

You can also get a court order (injunction) requiring the infringer to stop using your content and take corrective actions like posting a public apology or disclaimer.

An experienced Internet lawyer can help you understand all your potential claims and weigh your legal options. It’s important to note that a lawsuit can be time-consuming and costly, especially if the infringer is hard to identify or lives in another country. There’s no guarantee you will win or be able to collect meaningful damages.

A lawsuit can also be emotionally draining and may draw more attention to the leaked content. You may have to gather and produce highly personal evidence, give a deposition under oath, and potentially even testify in court about your OnlyFans activities. If you have kept your true identity separate from your OnlyFans persona, you may risk associating your identity with your persona.

But in some cases, the benefits outweigh the costs and risks. A successful lawsuit sends a powerful message that content theft is unacceptable and creators will fight back. It can serve as a deterrent to other would-be pirates and give you a much-needed sense of justice and closure.

If you’re considering a lawsuit, I strongly recommend consulting with an attorney who understands the unique challenges of online content and has experience representing creators. They can give you an honest assessment of your case and help you weigh your options.

You Can Fight Back Against OnlyFans Piracy. We’re Here to Help.

Dealing with OnlyFans piracy can ;ead to feelings of isolation and hopelessness. But you’re not alone, you have nothing to be ashamed of, and you have more power than you realize. By implementing proactive protection strategies, understanding your rights, and taking decisive action against leakers, you can fight back and regain control.

At Minc Law, we’re passionate about defending creators against pirates and empowering you with the knowledge and tools to safeguard your content and livelihood. If you’re experiencing OnlyFans piracy and need help, reach out to schedule a free, confidential consultation with our team. Together, we can hold pirates accountable and protect your content, your income, and your peace of mind.