Which channel to use for which problem
Brand report, DMCA notice, or authenticity report — three intake channels with different legal weight, compared honestly.
title: Which channel to use for which problem description: Brand report, DMCA notice, or authenticity report — three intake channels with different legal weight, compared honestly. topic: brand-help order: 31 updated_at: "2026-08-07" tags: [brand, dmca, authenticity, report, channels] related: [report-a-listing, brand-registry-overview] schema_type: FAQPage faq:
- question: "Is a brand dashboard report the same as a DMCA notice?" answer: "No. A dashboard report is a marketplace-policy complaint reviewed by Wehoz staff. A DMCA notice is a formal legal instrument with sworn statements, counter-notice rights for the seller, and repeat-infringer consequences. If you want statutory takedown force, file at wehoz.com/policies/dmca."
- question: "Where do I report a counterfeit of my product?" answer: "Use the authenticity report form at wehoz.com/policies/authenticity. It's open to anyone — brands, buyers, or the public — supports evidence links, and you receive the outcome by email."
- question: "Can I stop a seller from listing my brand at all?" answer: "If your registry's enforcement mode is allowlist, sellers not on your authorized-reseller list are blocked from publishing your brand. See the authorized-resellers article for the modes and their limits."
Wehoz has three separate intake channels that overlap just enough to confuse people. Here's the honest disambiguation.
The three channels
| Brand report | DMCA notice | Authenticity report | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Brand dashboard | /policies/dmca | /policies/authenticity |
| Who can file | Approved registry holders | Any copyright owner or agent | Anyone — brands, buyers, public |
| Legal character | Marketplace-policy complaint | Formal legal notice under 17 U.S.C. §512, with statements made under penalty of perjury | Marketplace trust-and-safety report |
| Seller's rights | Wehoz review process | Statutory counter-notice process | Wehoz review process |
| Feeds seller strikes | No | Yes — three valid notices in 12 months is automatic permanent termination | Not directly; confirmed counterfeits trigger the seller agreement's immediate-termination terms |
| You receive | Reference number | Notice number and formal processing | Report number plus outcome email |
Choosing, by problem
- "This seller isn't authorized to sell our brand" → Brand report. If your registry is in allowlist mode, also make sure your reseller list is current so future publishes are blocked automatically.
- "This listing is priced below our MAP floor" → Set or update the MAP floor (blocks future publishes), and file a brand report for the live listing.
- "This listing uses our copyrighted photos / text / packaging art" → DMCA notice if you want statutory force and strike consequences; brand report if you want it reviewed as a policy matter first. Don't file both for the same listing.
- "This product is fake" → Authenticity report. Attach evidence — test purchase photos, serial checks, packaging comparisons.
- "Trademark infringement in the listing title or branding" → This is not copyright, so the DMCA process is the wrong instrument. File a brand report and describe the trademark issue; for formal trademark claims beyond the marketplace process, that's a matter for your counsel.
One rule of thumb
Escalate deliberately, not maximally. The DMCA channel exists for genuine copyright claims and has real consequences in both directions — including §512(f) liability for material misrepresentation by the filer. When a policy channel solves the problem, use the policy channel.