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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsIf a game appears to use your artwork without permission, first preserve evidence and check who owns the rights. Then review any license or contract, contact the developer or uploader if appropriate, or file a notice through the platform’s official process. A U.S. DMCA notice is a formal legal claim—not simply a request to remove an image—and a counter-notice can lead to restoration or litigation. This guide focuses on U.S. rules; other countries may differ.
1. Confirm that you own the rights
In the United States, copyright generally attaches to original artwork once it is fixed in a tangible form, such as a saved digital image or a physical drawing. It protects original expression, not an abstract idea, system, or procedure. The U.S. Copyright Office explains the distinction in its copyright overview.
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Before reporting the use, check whether you own the relevant rights or are authorized to act for the owner. A commission agreement, employment terms, assignment, or license may change who holds the rights or what uses were permitted. Gather the contract or permission record along with your original file, layered working files, dated drafts, and publication records that help establish authorship or ownership.
2. Document where the game uses the art
Record the game title, the developer or publisher if known, the page or store listing, the URL, the date you observed the image, and where it appears in the game or on the platform. Save screenshots and copies for your records, and keep the original work unchanged. These are practical preservation steps; platforms require enough information to identify the copyrighted work and the allegedly infringing material, but the cited platform guidance does not prescribe one evidence format.
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Compare the images carefully. Note what appears to have been copied and where it appears, rather than relying only on a general impression that the game has a similar style or idea. A useful report should help the platform locate both your work and the material you are asking it to review.
3. Check for permission or a possible exception
Review any license, commission terms, employment agreement, or other permission that might cover the game’s use. If another person or company owns the rights, get their authorization before filing on their behalf.
Consider whether a legal exception may apply. In the U.S., fair use depends on the circumstances; there is no fixed percentage, number of words, or number of musical notes that automatically makes a use fair. The Copyright Office’s Fair Use FAQ explains that uncertainty. Epic also asks reporters to consider fair use, fair dealing, or similar exceptions before submitting a request. Other countries may apply different exceptions and rules.
4. Choose how to raise the issue
If it is practical and safe, you can send the developer or uploader a brief, factual message identifying the art, the game location, and the outcome you are seeking. This may clarify a mistake or lead to a voluntary fix. Valve specifically notes that a claimant might contact the individual first because the issue could be a simple misunderstanding. You can instead use the platform’s formal process when direct contact is unsuitable or does not resolve the issue.
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Steam
Valve’s Steam copyright notice form asks for the URL of the material on Valve’s systems, a description of the allegedly infringing content, details about and a URL for the copyrighted work when available, claimant contact details, declarations about authority and good faith, and a signature. Valve says notice contents, including your name and email, may be provided to the uploader. Consider that disclosure before submitting.
Epic Games
Epic accepts copyright removal requests for content posted on its products and services through its copyright and trademark reporting page. Epic warns that submitting a notice is a legal process and that false claims can carry legal and account consequences. Its page also describes a counter-notice process for users who believe content was removed by mistake or because it was authorized.
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As of August 10, 2026, Epic’s page says it no longer processes IP reports for ArtStation or Sketchfab. It directs ArtStation reports to [email protected] and Sketchfab reports to [email protected]. Because reporting destinations can change, check the linked page before using either address.
Nintendo
Nintendo’s U.S. Intellectual Property Policy accepts notices about material on its websites or within its video-game products. It asks for a description of the copyrighted work and allegedly infringing material, details that locate the material, contact information, a good-faith statement, an authority and accuracy statement under penalty of perjury, and a signature.
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5. Understand the risks of a formal notice
A DMCA notice makes formal legal assertions: you must have a good-faith basis and the authority to act. Knowingly making a material misrepresentation can have legal consequences. Valve calls an infringement claim a serious legal matter, and Epic warns about consequences for false claims. Do not use a takedown notice merely to pressure someone in a dispute about credit, payment, or a contract.
Before filing, weigh how urgently the material needs attention, how certain you are about ownership and permission, whether direct contact is suitable, what claimant information the platform may share, and whether you are prepared to respond if the uploader disputes the claim. The platforms’ forms and policies set out their own requirements; a careful decision about whether to file depends on your circumstances.
6. Know what can happen after a takedown
An uploader whose material is removed may submit a counter-notice asserting mistake or misidentification. Under the U.S. process described by the Copyright Office, a service provider may restore the material no earlier than 10 and no later than 14 business days after forwarding a compliant counter-notice, unless the claimant notifies the provider that they have filed a lawsuit seeking to restrain the use. The counter-notice includes formal declarations and consent to jurisdiction, so responding to one can involve litigation. See the Copyright Office’s Section 512 resources.
If the platform process does not resolve the dispute, possible U.S. routes include federal court or, for eligible claims, the voluntary Copyright Claims Board. The Copyright Office describes a total cap of $30,000 for eligible CCB matters in its Section 512 guidance. The appropriate option depends on ownership, evidence, the remedy you want, jurisdiction, and cost. The Copyright Office advises people who believe their copyright has been infringed to consult an attorney; consider speaking with a copyright attorney if the dispute is significant or contested.
For artists outside the United States
This guide describes U.S. copyright and DMCA procedures. If you are elsewhere, check your country’s copyright rules and the relevant game platform’s current reporting process. A platform may operate across borders, but the legal rules and available remedies are not necessarily the same.
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