Takedown & Removal Requests
Our commitment to preserving early web history while respecting intellectual property, privacy, and legal obligations.
Overview
1990 Web Archive is dedicated to documenting and preserving the formative years of the World Wide Web. While our mission is historical preservation, we strictly comply with applicable copyright laws, privacy regulations, and court orders. If you believe content hosted or archived by us infringes on your rights, this page outlines the official procedure for requesting removal.
Note: We do not host live websites. We store static snapshots, metadata, and renderings for archival and research purposes. Removal requests apply to our internal preservation servers and public-facing viewing tools.
Eligible Request Categories
We process removal requests that fall into the following categories:
- Copyright Infringement (DMCA/Equivalent): Unauthorized reproduction of copyrighted material you own.
- Privacy & PII Exposure: Personal identifiable information (addresses, phone numbers, SSNs, private emails) exposed without consent.
- Legal & Court Orders: Valid subpoenas, cease & desist orders, or regulatory directives.
- Illegal/Harmful Content: Content violating platform safety policies or applicable law.
Requests that do not meet these criteria may be declined. Historical significance and fair use considerations are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Submission Process
Identify Content
Locate exact archive URLs, snapshot IDs, or page titles.
Gather Evidence
Prepare ownership proof, privacy impact details, or legal docs.
Submit Request
Use our secure form or email our designated agent.
Review & Action
We evaluate, respond, and process removal if valid.
Required Information
To expedite processing, please include the following in your submission:
| Your Name / Organization | Full legal name or authorized representative |
|---|---|
| Contact Information | Valid email & phone number for follow-up |
| Target URLs / Snapshot IDs | Exact archive links or WAC-XXXXXX identifiers |
| Nature of Claim | Copyright, Privacy, Legal Order, or Policy Violation |
| Supporting Documentation | Registration certs, ID verification, court filings, or privacy impact statement |
| Verification Signature | Electronic signature or authorized digital acknowledgment |
Processing Timeline
- Standard Requests: Reviewed within 3–5 business days
- Complex/Legal Cases: Up to 14 business days for verification & compliance review
- Counter-Notifications: Filed under DMCA will be processed per statutory guidelines (10–14 days)
You will receive an automated confirmation upon submission, followed by a detailed status update. Unfounded or malicious requests may be rejected and flagged for further review.
Important Legal Notice
Submitting a false or fraudulent takedown request may result in account restrictions, legal liability, and exclusion from archival services. We comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), GDPR, CCPA, and applicable international preservation statutes. If you believe content was removed in error, please reference our Counter-Notification Policy.
Archival snapshots created prior to your removal request may remain in offline preservation for compliance, but will be inaccessible via public interfaces and excluded from search indices.
Contact & DMCA Agent
For immediate assistance or formal legal correspondence, reach our dedicated compliance team:
Archive Compliance Dept.
San Francisco, CA 94105