DMCA Policy – BoardSphere

At BoardSphere, we respect and protect the intellectual property rights of board game creators, designers, illustrators, writers, and publishers. Our club provides a community space for board game enthusiasts to gather, play, learn, and discuss games, while ensuring that all materials used within the club comply with copyright law and other applicable regulations.

This DMCA Policy explains how copyright owners can report unauthorized use of their works, how we respond to such claims, and how users can submit counter-notifications if they believe their content was removed in error.

1. Scope of Policy

Protected materials in the context of board games include, but are not limited to:

• Game rules, manuals, and instruction booklets
• Artwork, illustrations, character designs, and board layouts
• Cards, tokens, tiles, and other physical or digital components
• Game titles, logos, and branding
• Digital adaptations, online platforms, or software versions of board games

Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, public display, or modification of these materials without permission may constitute copyright infringement. This includes photocopying rulebooks, sharing digital versions of game content, or posting images and videos of copyrighted materials without authorization.

2. Filing a DMCA Takedown Notice

If you are a copyright owner or authorized to act on behalf of one, and you believe your work is being used in our club without permission, you may submit a DMCA Takedown Notice. The notice must include:

• Your full legal name, mailing address, phone number, and email address
• Identification of the copyrighted work you believe has been infringed
• The location of the infringing content within our club or on our digital platforms
• A statement under penalty of perjury that you have a good faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law
• A statement confirming that the information in the notice is accurate and that you are authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner
• Your physical or electronic signature

Upon receiving a valid notice, we will review it promptly, remove or disable access to the allegedly infringing material, and notify the individual responsible.

3. Counter-Notification

If your content has been removed or disabled in error, you may submit a counter-notification that includes:

• Your full legal name, mailing address, phone number, and email address
• Identification of the material that was removed and its original location
• A statement under penalty of perjury asserting that the removal was a result of mistake or misidentification
• A statement that you consent to the jurisdiction of the appropriate court and agree to accept service of process from the person who submitted the original notice
• Your physical or electronic signature

After receiving a valid counter-notification, we will forward it to the original complainant. Unless legal action is initiated within the required period, the material may be restored.

4. Repeat Infringers

Users or members who repeatedly infringe on copyrights may have their club membership suspended or revoked. Repeat violations may also result in restrictions on using club facilities or participation in club events.

5. Fair Use

Certain uses of copyrighted board game materials may fall under fair use, including:

• Reviews, critiques, and educational commentary
• Demonstrations for instructional purposes or game strategy analysis
• Non-commercial recordings of gameplay with commentary
• Transformative works that significantly alter the original material

Members are responsible for ensuring their use of materials qualifies as fair use before posting or sharing.

6. Misuse of DMCA

Submitting false or misleading DMCA notices or counter-notifications is prohibited. Misuse of this process may result in legal liability and sanctions by the club.