Copyright & DMCA Takedown Policy

Last updated: 09 August 2026

themv.shop (a sub-brand of theMV, South Africa) respects the intellectual property rights of others and expects the same from everyone who uses the platform. This policy explains how to report allegedly infringing content and how to respond if your content is removed.

1. What this policy covers

This policy applies to content hosted on the platform, including:

• Themes and template designs listed in the marketplace.
• Websites and storefronts built by users on the platform.
• User-uploaded images, text, media and other materials.
• Designer profile content.

2. Filing a takedown notice (DMCA & ECTA s.75)

If you believe in good faith that content on the platform infringes your copyright, you may send a takedown notice to our designated agent:

To be valid, your notice should include all of the following:

1. Identification of the copyrighted work you claim has been infringed (or a representative list of works).
2. The specific URL(s) where the allegedly infringing material is located on the platform.
3. Your full legal name and contact details (email, phone, postal address).
4. A statement that you have a good-faith belief the use is not authorised by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
5. A statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the owner or authorised to act on the owner's behalf.
6. Your physical or electronic signature.

Notices may also be submitted under section 75 of the South African Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (ECTA) using the same details above; the required information is the same.

3. What happens after we receive a notice

• We acknowledge receipt of every notice within 24 hours.
• We review valid notices and act within 48 hours of a valid notice, which usually means removing or disabling access to the identified material.
• We may notify the user who posted the content and provide them with a copy of the notice (with your contact details redacted where appropriate).

4. Counter-notice

If your content was removed and you believe the removal was a mistake or a misidentification, you may send a counter-notice to legal@themv.co.za within 14 days of the removal. Your counter-notice must include:

1. Identification of the material that was removed and its location before removal.
2. A statement, under penalty of perjury, that you have a good-faith belief the material was removed by mistake or misidentification.
3. Your full legal name, contact details, and consent to the jurisdiction of the South African courts (or, for DMCA matters, the federal district court for the judicial district in which you are located).
4. Your physical or electronic signature.

Upon receipt of a valid counter-notice, we may restore the material within 10 to 14 business days unless the complainant notifies us that they have filed a court action against you.

5. Repeat infringers

We maintain a policy of terminating, in appropriate circumstances, the accounts of users who repeatedly infringe copyright. A single valid takedown notice may be considered in deciding whether to suspend an account.

6. Misuse of this process

Filing a knowingly false or misleading takedown notice or counter-notice can make you liable for damages, including costs and attorneys' fees (for example under section 512(f) of the US DMCA). Only file a notice or counter-notice if you are acting in good faith and are lawfully entitled to do so.

7. Contact

All takedown and counter-notice correspondence should be sent to legal@themv.co.za. For all other enquiries, see our Contact page.