Copyright Policy

Is it your work?

If someone posted your writing here without permission, you don't need an account to tell us. Send a notice to our designated agent, below. If you have an account, you can also use the Report link on the story and choose "Someone else's work posted without permission". A formal notice is still the surest route.

Our designated agent

Copyright Agent, Joseph Michael Mercurio III
3802 Elbert Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305
Email: [email protected]

What a takedown notice must include

The law requires these, in writing:

1. Your physical or electronic signature (typing your full name works).
2. The copyrighted work you say is infringed.
3. The material you want removed, with its link on The Pollionian (for example, a story's address).
4. Your name, mailing address, phone number and email address.
5. A statement that you believe in good faith that the use isn't authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
6. A statement that the information in your notice is accurate and, under penalty of perjury, that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act for them.

When we receive a complete notice, we'll remove the material promptly, tell the person who posted it, and send them a copy of your notice. Knowingly false notices can make you liable for damages.

If your work was removed by mistake: counter-notice

If you believe material you posted was removed because of a mistake or misidentification, you can send our agent a counter-notice including:

1. Your physical or electronic signature.
2. The material that was removed, and the link where it appeared before.
3. A statement, under penalty of perjury, that you believe in good faith it was removed by mistake or misidentification.
4. Your name, address and phone number, and a statement that you consent to the jurisdiction of the federal district court for your address (or, if you're outside the United States, any district where we may be found), and that you'll accept service of legal papers from the person who sent the original notice.

We'll forward your counter-notice to the person who sent the original notice. Unless they tell us within 10 business days that they've filed a court action, we'll restore the material within 10 to 14 business days of receiving your counter-notice.

Repeat infringers

We close the accounts of people who repeatedly post others' work without permission. In most cases that means after a third valid notice. A single serious case can be enough.

The classics

The monthly contest uses only works in the US public domain: works first published 95 or more years ago. Writers' responses to them are their own original work. If you think a classic we've used is still under copyright, please tell us.