The University is aware of a number of student sharing websites to which content belonging to the University has been uploaded.
(e.g., Course Hero, OneClass, Studocu, etc)
We are currently considering wider steps to address this issue. In the meantime, we have set out below some simple steps for requesting the removal of material from these sites.
Submit a takedown notice
If you have identified on any such site materials which you think may belong to the University, the first step is to submit a takedown notice. Many sites have a simple online form.
Takedown notices are usually quite straightforward, take only a few minutes to complete and usually ask for:
- A brief description of the work which has allegedly been infringed and a link to it.
- A statement that your rights have been infringed and why, for example:
“I authored the work during the course of my employment at The University of Manchester.
The work has been uploaded to your site without permission. As such, I consider this to amount to copyright infringement”- Confirmation that the information is accurate and complete.
- Confirmation that the person completing the form is (or has been authorised by) the author.
- Your contact details.
We have generally found that we obtain swift and positive responses from these sites.
If there is no online form, try sending an email using the site’s contact details. For example:
Dear Sirs,
We have recently became aware that intellectual property (“IP”) belonging to The University of Manchester is being used on your website
[insert any further relevant description (if necessary)][insert URL] (the “Materials”).
This use of the Materials is not authorised and, in our view, infringes the University’s IP rights. We should therefore be grateful if you would within 14 days (i.e. by not later than [insert date +14).
(a) remove the Materials from your website;
(b) refrain from any further unauthorised use of the University’s materials; and
(c) confirm that you have taken the steps detailed at (a) and (b) above.
The University reserves the right to take further action in the event that you fail to take the steps outlined above.
We look forward to hearing from you by not later than [insert date +14].
Yours faithfully
Support from the legal team
If you would prefer the legal team to submit a takedown notice on your behalf or if your takedown notice does not result in the material being removed from the site, please and return it to legal@manchester.ac.uk and the University’s legal team will submit a takedown notice on your behalf.