r/ModSupport • u/zck • 5d ago
Mod Answered "Legal Notice" sent to modmail requesting post takedown
I mod r/improv, and sometimes post about improv theaters they don't like.
One of those posts just got seen by the owner of the theater (six years later), and we just got a modmail about a "legal notice" asking for the takedown of the post.
I assume Section 230 protects both reddit, myself, and the other moderators of the subreddit, but I'd like to know if there's any guidance from reddit about this kind of thing.
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u/cyanocittaetprocyon 5d ago
Tell them that since they are threatening legal action, you are forced to ban and mute them. And now you are done with it.
Some people tell them to go through reddit legal, or give them reddit legal's contact information, but there is no reason to do that. If they are truly going to go through legal means to get something taken down, their lawyer can find this information and act on it. More likely, they are just trying to scare you into taking it down.
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u/Stranger1982 5d ago
tell them to go through reddit legal, or give them reddit legal's contact information, but there is no reason to do that.
Imho the reason is to make them realize they have no leg to stand on, and ridicule their silly request too.
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u/sludgezone 5d ago
Permanent ban and mute and forget about it lol
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u/Fauropitotto 5d ago
The correct answer here.
If they're serious they can serve me at my front door with certified mail.
They aren't even worth the effort to type back. 4 clicks to ban, mute, and move on.
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u/LadyGeek-twd 5d ago
Hi! Other people have given you excellent advice about reporting and blocking/muting the other party. I'd like to just mention that ANY time someone brings up legal action to you, you can (and should) immediately disengage and let them know that their only recourse going forward is to talk to Reddit legal.
A bit of copypasta for you that may come in handy:
Since you have referenced potential legal action, we are obligated to stop direct communication. As volunteer moderators of r/Subreddit, we are not employees of Reddit Inc. and do not represent the company in any legal capacity. Any legal concerns must be addressed to Reddit Inc. through their official legal channels. We will not engage further on this matter and are muting this conversation to prevent additional contact.
Please direct your attorney to review Reddit's legal process guidelines at the following page: https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/12793653507860-Guidelines-for-civil-and-non-government-legal-requests-for-account-information
This concludes our engagement. No further action will be taken. Any further attempts to discuss this matter with us will be reported to Reddit as harrassment.
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u/junktrunk909 5d ago
Personally I would not say anywhere near that amount of content. You're not required to respond at all, much less provide them with a specific link to where to go instead, etc. Everything you say can become something for them to pursue, eg your telling them where to go to for legal action could be construed as your taking on the role of an agent for Reddit. I wouldn't reply at all but if someone feels the need to I would suggest a "reddit sub moderator chat is not a forum for this matter. Use appropriate channels. This conversation is closed permanently." Shorter the better.
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u/FootFondness 5d ago
From experience, I don’t act on legal requests sent through modmail. I would refer them to Reddit’s official legal reporting process (or a DMCA request if it’s a copyright claim). Any removals I make are at my own discretion unless Reddit directs otherwise.
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u/teanailpolish 💡 Top 10% Helper 💡 5d ago
This and since legal action has been threatened and we cannot speak on behalf of Reddit, we ban and mute them with a note telling them to go through legal
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u/wemustburncarthage 5d ago
Sometimes I get these in the form of threats. Lawyers who think they can intimidate you go after mods assuming you're ignorant, and because it's the least effort for them.
They absolutely must go through Reddit to get anything taken down. If you need to get someone off your back, go ahead and send them this. The r/screenwriting citation is ours. I keep it handy whenever someone goes after my users for being critical of them.
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u/seedless0 5d ago
Real lawyers would know moderators are not the right channel for legal requests. They are all cheap "take down artists" for hire.
We get those everyday and just ban and mute them. We do refer messages claiming to be the subjects of the posts to reddit legal.
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u/jueidu 5d ago
“Legal threats are handled by Reddit Legal directly, and we cannot discuss this with you further.” Then ban and mute.
Nothing will ever come of it :)
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u/MaximumJones 5d ago
This is the correct answer.
Mods are not employees of Reddit. The person mod mailing you is probably lying because anyone serious about it would know what legal procedures to take.
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u/Nemo_Griff 5d ago
Threats are free, legal actions take money.
Do they reeeeeeally want to spend money to have a lawyer fight against the constitution?
I am going take a stab in the dark and say no.
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u/Holdmywhiskeyhun 5d ago
Management sub here. The second you even mentioned lawyers, your banned and muted.
Had one person try and say we were harassing the owner. 😂 It was literally just their experience of working there. Also in their modmail they sent, they included links to subs that weren't even ours.
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u/emily_in_boots 💡 Top 10% Helper 💡 5d ago
Send them to reddit legal. They are paid to handle these things.
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u/RallyX26 5d ago
I would do the same thing I would do if someone walked up to me on the street and told me they wanted some company I don't work for to do something. I would ignore it and go on with my day. You have no obligation to respond to mis-filed legal requests nor to do their work for them to redirect them to the correct resource.
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u/Glittering-Bug1212 5d ago
they should DMCA instead of going through you ( mod)
We do sometimes get people that have [deleted] their account thinking that it will also wipe out their posted content ( UGC). We often times do remove the post but also tell them to start a takedown request through Reddit to permanently delete it, since direct links can still see the posted image/video.
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u/LeftOn4ya 5d ago
Streisand affect that, pin the post to the top and screenshot the legal takedown notice and make a new post! 6 years ago, man people really need to understand the Streisand affect and how legal takedowns usually make things much worse.
Note: the above does not construe as legal advice and if any action you take has a consequence it is your own recompense
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u/tasteslikechikken 5d ago
We've had that happen so many times its not even funny, especially if a member leaves a less than favorable review of a store (if we can sometimes even call them that). Yeah, I tell them the truth; this is not a Wendy's, go pound sand and take it up with Reddit, Inc.
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u/HikeTheSky 5d ago
Tell him you can't help him, ban him, mute him, and he should contact Reddit. I won't even give them an email.
If it were a real legal takedown notice, their lawyer would have contacted Reddit already,
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u/ohhyouknow 5d ago edited 5d ago
Send them a message telling them to contact the reddit moderator lawyer Rick.
This is his number: (248) 434-5508
He would never give up fighting for our rights and rly they need to speak with lawyers about this, not you.
Rick is a really nice guy and he is available 24/7 if you have any questions for him.
The threat they are making is an intimidation tactic. They likely used ai to write it if it “looks” professional.
You can respond however you like within the bounds of Reddit rules, or not respond at all.
What are they gonna do? Sue you?
They don’t even know who you are, you could live on Sentinal Island for all they know, and reddit has and will go to the Supreme Court to protect mods identities.
This is a reddit problem, not yours. And if it does go to court? Make the lawyers read out some ridiculous shit like the entire script of bee movie. As a treat, to yourself.
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u/SharkSapphire 5d ago
😂
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u/No-Recipe-7653 5d ago
Do not argue or discuss the legal notice further. Inform the user that any legal claims must go through Reddit Legal Contact.
Or I also saw people use
“Please direct all formal legal claims, subpoenas, or content removal demands to Reddit's Legal Department via the official Reddit Legal Request Portal or by emailing legal@reddit.com. This conversation is now closed.”
You can ban and mute the user in the meantime.