---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Under the 1998 Digital Millennium…"
description: "\"Under the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Tumblr, YouTube, Reddit, WordPress, and Facebook aren't responsible for the copyright infringement of ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfd/marvin-ammori-11271_copyright_under-the-1998-digital-millennium-copyri_413466.jpg"
---

#  Under the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Tumblr…

![“Under the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Tumblr, YouTube, Reddit, WordPress, and Facebook aren't responsible for the copyright infringement of each of their millions of users, so long as they take down specific posts, videos, or images when notified by copyright holders. But copyright…” quote by Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfd/marvin-ammori-11271_copyright_under-the-1998-digital-millennium-copyri_413466.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfd/marvin-ammori-11271_copyright_under-the-1998-digital-millennium-copyri_413466.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfd/marvin-ammori-11271_copyright_under-the-1998-digital-millennium-copyri_413466.jpg)

> “Under the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Tumblr, YouTube, Reddit, WordPress, and Facebook aren't responsible for the copyright infringement of each of their millions of users, so long as they take down specific posts, videos, or images when notified by copyright holders. But copyright holders thought that wasn't good enough.”

[Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Platforms aren't liable for user infringements if they remove flagged content promptly.

**In simple terms:** Platforms safe if they act quickly.

Key Takeaway

Implement swift takedown processes.

Themes

copyright law digital platforms liability

Mood

analytical concerned

Type

legal informative

When to use this quote

- online publishing
- social media management
- user-generated content

Key Concepts

safe harbor content moderation

Questions to Reflect On

- How can platforms improve notice‑and‑takedown?
- What safeguards protect creators?

A Different Perspective

Balancing free expression with copyright enforcement is complex.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Copyright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copyright/) [Good enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-enough/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/)

## Related quotes

> [I stole a lot from Gary Oldman. I stole the hairdo from his incarnation of Dracula. We cheated it just enough, so we couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-theroux/i-stole-a-lot-from-gary-oldman-i-stole-the-hairdo-from-his/)

[Justin Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-theroux/)

> [Vigorous enforcement of copyrights themselves is an important part of the picture. But I don't think that expanding the legal definition of copyright outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/vigorous-enforcement-of-copyrights-themselves-is-an-important-part-of/)

[Edward Felten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-felten/)

> [Napster's only alleged liability is for contributory or vicarious infringement. So when Napster's users engage in noncommercial sharing of music, is that activity copyright…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-boies/napster-s-only-alleged-liability-is-for-contributory-or-vicarious/)

[David Boies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-boies/)

> [I have always found it interesting... that there are people who regard copyright infringement as a form of flattery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/i-have-always-found-it-interesting-that-there-are-people-who-regard/)

[Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/)

> [All over the world copyright holders are trying to limit consumers' rights. We cannot have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-over-the-world-copyright-holders-are-trying-to-limit-consumers/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [YouTube is committed to balancing the needs of the fan community with those of copyright holders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hurley/youtube-is-committed-to-balancing-the-needs-of-the-fan-community-with/)

[Chad Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hurley/)

> [One of many challenges is of course to create a legal basis for copyright issues that's up to date with both modern distribution, consumer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-langseth/one-of-many-challenges-is-of-course-to-create-a-legal-basis-for/)

Lisa Langseth

> [The rights of copyright holders need to be protected, but some draconian remedies that have been suggested would create more problems than they would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/the-rights-of-copyright-holders-need-to-be-protected-but-some/)

[Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/)

> [The FCC extorts broadcasters by threatening to take away their licenses for infringements which are usually the result of complaints from an extreme, right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/the-fcc-extorts-broadcasters-by-threatening-to-take-away-their/)

[Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/)

> [In talking about human rights today, we are referring primarily to the following demands: protection of the individual against arbitrary infringement by other individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/in-talking-about-human-rights-today-we-are-referring-primarily-to-the/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [I'd like to do a song that I wrote today about our government's increasing infringement on our right to privacy, but the lyrics mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-piraro/i-d-like-to-do-a-song-that-i-wrote-today-about-our-government-s/)

[Dan Piraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-piraro/)

> [Despite two decisions, in 2008 and 2010, by the U.S. Supreme Court unequivocally affirming that the Second Amendment to the Constitution guarantees an individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barr/despite-two-decisions-in-2008-and-2010-by-the-u-s-supreme-court/)

[Bob Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barr/)

> [Don't fight the patent, fight the infringement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-curtis/don-t-fight-the-patent-fight-the-infringement/)

[Drew Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-curtis/)

> [Nature is not benevolent; Nature is just, gives pound for pound, measure for measure, makes no exceptions, never tempers her decrees with mercy, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/nature-is-not-benevolent-nature-is-just-gives-pound-for-pound-measure/)

[John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/)

> [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/)

[Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/)

## More by Marvin Ammori

> [In 1984, the Federal Trade Commission released a report that explained why taxis could charge customers exorbitant prices for dismal service. The simple reason,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/in-1984-the-federal-trade-commission-released-a-report-that-explained/)

[Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/)

> [Data can generally travel the speed of light unless networks are congested. When there's congestion, usually the cheapest and best thing is simply to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/data-can-generally-travel-the-speed-of-light-unless-networks-are/)

[Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/)

> [The current FCC chairman, Tom Wheeler, is highly regarded, but some distrust him because he is the former head lobbyist of both the cable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/the-current-fcc-chairman-tom-wheeler-is-highly-regarded-but-some/)

[Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/)

> [Charter hired me - which, to be honest, took some humility on its part, since I have helped lead public campaigns against cable companies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/charter-hired-me-which-to-be-honest-took-some-humility-on-its-part/)

[Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/)

> [When Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, declaring that all men were created equal, he owned slaves. Women couldn't vote. But, throughout history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/when-thomas-jefferson-wrote-the-declaration-of-independence-declaring/)

[Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/)

> [Competitors argue that Google rigs its search algorithms to demote listings for competing search engines. Many of the allegations of demotion come generally from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/competitors-argue-that-google-rigs-its-search-algorithms-to-demote/)

[Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/)

> [In 2011, mobile data traffic in the United States was eight times the size of the entire global Internet in 2000. That's traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/in-2011-mobile-data-traffic-in-the-united-states-was-eight-times-the/)

[Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/)

> [President Obama is a big supporter of keeping the Internet open. During his presidential campaign, he pledged his support to net neutrality repeatedly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/president-obama-is-a-big-supporter-of-keeping-the-internet-open/)

[Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/)

> [The iPhone will forever be associated with the inventive genius of Steve Jobs and Silicon Valley. But the roots of innovation can be traced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/the-iphone-will-forever-be-associated-with-the-inventive-genius-of/)

[Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/)

> [Today, in 2011, I'm giving Secretary Hillary Clinton the nod as the Obama Administration's improbable MVP in the technology realm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/today-in-2011-i-m-giving-secretary-hillary-clinton-the-nod-as-the/)

[Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/)

> [Google pays advertisers based not just on payment per click but also by number of clicks. The interplay between the two sets the prices,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/google-pays-advertisers-based-not-just-on-payment-per-click-but-also/)

[Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/)

> [Being a 'monopoly' is not illegal, nor is trying to best one's competitors through lower prices, better customer service, greater efficiency, or more rapid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/being-a-monopoly-is-not-illegal-nor-is-trying-to-best-one-s/)

[Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/)

> [Any 'network neutrality' rule should be designed to forbid phone or cable companies from controlling the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/any-network-neutrality-rule-should-be-designed-to-forbid-phone-or/)

[Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/)

> [The terms of copyright last far too long: either the life of the author plus 70 years after death for a personal work or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/the-terms-of-copyright-last-far-too-long-either-the-life-of-the/)

[Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/)

> [I have worked on open Internet, speech, and entrepreneurship issues for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/i-have-worked-on-open-internet-speech-and-entrepreneurship-issues-for/)

[Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/)

[Explore all 60 Marvin Ammori quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/)

## More Copyright quotes

> [Of course, corporations and governments have a right to something for their money. They pay the wages. But they don't have the ethical right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/of-course-corporations-and-governments-have-a-right-to-something-for/)

[John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/)

> [Any replacement to the current copyright position (life plus 70 years) needs to have an answer lined up for this, and similar, messy edge cases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/any-replacement-to-the-current-copyright-position-life-plus-70-years/)

[Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/)

> [My sense of proprietorship has been so weak that actually I didn't pay attention and I lost the copyrights on a lot of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/my-sense-of-proprietorship-has-been-so-weak-that-actually-i-didn-t/)

[Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/)

> [I think the reality is that copyright law has for a very long time been a tiny little part of American jurisprudence, far removed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/i-think-the-reality-is-that-copyright-law-has-for-a-very-long-time/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

> [“In our haste to disseminate news, it should not be forgotten that the Framers intended copyright itself to be the engine of free expression.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-weinstock-netanel/in-our-haste-to-disseminate-news-it-should-not-be-forgotten-that-the/)

Neil Weinstock Netanel

> [In 2002, Google began an ambitious project to digitize every book in the world. It was intended as a search project: type in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-darnton/in-2002-google-began-an-ambitious-project-to-digitize-every-book-in/)

[Robert Darnton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-darnton/)

> [The rights of copyright holders need to be protected, but some draconian remedies that have been suggested would create more problems than they would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/the-rights-of-copyright-holders-need-to-be-protected-but-some/)

[Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/)

> [In India, most people are not aware or are unconcerned about copyright laws. This has proved disastrous for the music fraternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/in-india-most-people-are-not-aware-or-are-unconcerned-about-copyright/)

[Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/)

> [You need to recognize that the copyright date on a book reflects when it came out, not when it was written - assume that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamais-cascio/you-need-to-recognize-that-the-copyright-date-on-a-book-reflects-when/)

[Jamais Cascio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamais-cascio/)

> [Whenever a copyright law is to be made or altered, then the idiots assemble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/whenever-a-copyright-law-is-to-be-made-or-altered-then-the-idiots/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [But, like all metaphoric wars, the copyright wars are not actual conflicts of survival. Or at least, they are not conflicts for survival of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/but-like-all-metaphoric-wars-the-copyright-wars-are-not-actual/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

> [I have a hunch that the unknown sequences of DNA will decode into copyright notices and patent protections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/i-have-a-hunch-that-the-unknown-sequences-of-dna-will-decode-into/)

[Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/)

> [Napster's only alleged liability is for contributory or vicarious infringement. So when Napster's users engage in noncommercial sharing of music, is that activity copyright…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-boies/napster-s-only-alleged-liability-is-for-contributory-or-vicarious/)

[David Boies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-boies/)

> [I'm a bit cynical that it ever will be addressed properly. I think it is healthy to get some sort of copyright protection. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gabriel/i-m-a-bit-cynical-that-it-ever-will-be-addressed-properly-i-think-it/)

[Peter Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gabriel/)

> [The U.S. obviously has all the evidence they need to prosecute bankers. They just need to search their own spy database and then there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-dotcom/the-u-s-obviously-has-all-the-evidence-they-need-to-prosecute-bankers/)

[Kim Dotcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-dotcom/)

[Browse all 235 Copyright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copyright/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Under the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Tumblr, YouTube, Reddit, WordPress, and Facebook aren't responsible for the copyright infringement of each of their millions of users, so long as they take down specific posts, videos, or images when notified by copyright holders. But copyright holders thought that wasn't good enough.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Marvin Ammori"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/under-the-1998-digital-millennium-copyright-act-tumblr-youtube-reddit/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Copyright"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/under-the-1998-digital-millennium-copyright-act-tumblr-youtube-reddit/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfd/marvin-ammori-11271_copyright_under-the-1998-digital-millennium-copyri_413466.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfd/marvin-ammori-11271_copyright_under-the-1998-digital-millennium-copyri_413466.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfd/marvin-ammori-11271_copyright_under-the-1998-digital-millennium-copyri_413466.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Under the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Tumblr, YouTube, Reddit, WordPress, and Facebook aren't…” — Marvin Ammori",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Marvin Ammori",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Under the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/under-the-1998-digital-millennium-copyright-act-tumblr-youtube-reddit/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/under-the-1998-digital-millennium-copyright-act-tumblr-youtube-reddit/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
