stamp
What this covers
Stamp does not pre-screen user content. When we receive a valid notice that user content infringes intellectual property or related rights, we act expeditiously to remove or disable access to it.
The same email and a parallel process apply to:
- Copyright (UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988)
- Trade marks (UK Trade Marks Act 1994)
- Passing off (UK common law)
- Defamation (UK Defamation Act 2013)
- Image rights (data-protection and privacy law)
How to file a notice
Send an email to copyright@stamp.foundation including, in writing:
- Your full name, postal address, telephone, and email.
- A description of the work you say is infringed, with proof of ownership or authorisation: registration number (if registered), link to the original publication (if online), date of creation (if unregistered), or authorisation document if you act for the rights-holder.
- The exact in-app location of the allegedly infringing content:
stamp://post/{post_id}orstamp://message/{message_id}from the app's share menu, or a screenshot showing the user's @handle, post date, and content. - A statement of truth: "I believe that the facts stated in this notice are true, and that I am the rights-holder or authorised to act on their behalf." Knowingly making a false statement of truth can be a contempt of court under CPR Part 22.
- Your physical or electronic signature.
We cannot action incomplete notices. If your notice is missing required elements we will reply within 48 hours pointing out the gaps.
What we do
| Step | Window |
|---|---|
| Acknowledgement of valid notice (with reference number) | 48 hours |
| Assessment + clarification request if needed | 7 days |
| Notify the user who posted the content, invite a response | Same day as assessment |
| Remove or disable, unless valid counter-notice received | 7 days |
Repeat infringers: users with three or more upheld notices in a 12-month period have their accounts terminated. The 30-day appeals window in our moderation policy applies to the final termination.
Counter-notice procedure
If you believe your content was removed in error, send a counter-notice to copyright@stamp.foundation with:
- Your full contact details.
- Identification of the removed material (in-app URL, post ID, or screenshot).
- A statement of truth: "I believe that the facts stated in this counter-notice are true, and I have a good-faith belief that the material was removed in error or as a result of misidentification." Knowingly making a false statement of truth can be a contempt of court under CPR Part 22.
- Your consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales for any subsequent legal action arising from the dispute.
- Your physical or electronic signature.
On receipt of a valid counter-notice we forward it to the original complainant. We reinstate the content within 10 to 14 working days unless the original complainant brings legal proceedings against the user, in which case the content stays disabled pending the court's determination.
Bad-faith notices
Knowingly false notices are an offence and may give rise to liability under, among other things:
- Section 253 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (unjustified threats);
- Section 21 of the Trade Marks Act 1994 (groundless threats of trade-mark infringement proceedings);
- Tortious causes of action including malicious falsehood and abuse of process.
We may publish summary statistics of bad-faith notices received, naming the bad-faith filer if we have grounds to do so.
Trade marks, passing off, defamation, image rights
Use the same email (copyright@stamp.foundation). The evidentiary requirements differ slightly:
- Trade marks: evidence of registration or use-in-trade.
- Passing off: evidence of goodwill, misrepresentation, and damage.
- Defamation: the allegedly defamatory statement, why it is false, and (if applicable) why a defence under the Defamation Act 2013 should fail. Defamation takedowns are sensitive; we may exercise editorial caution before removing.
- Image rights: the affected individual's identity, evidence the image is of them, and that consent was not given.
Counsel and complex disputes
For complex disputes (fair-dealing arguments, parody, news-reporting use, contested ownership) we may seek written advice from external UK counsel before deciding. The user posting the content is notified that the matter is under review.
Transparency
We will publish an annual Transparency Report summarising:
- Number of notices received, by category;
- Number of takedowns actioned;
- Number of counter-notices received;
- Number of accounts terminated as repeat infringers;
- Number of bad-faith notices identified.
The first report covers the period from our public launch (later in our first year).
Contact
- Notices and counter-notices: copyright@stamp.foundation
- General legal: legal@stamp.foundation
Stamp Social Ltd, Company No. 17188757, registered office 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JQ. Registered with the ICO (ZC142084) under the Data Protection Act 2018. Trading as Stamp Foundation.