Before you file a DMCA strike or a statutory abuse report, you must lock down the evidentiary perimeter. If you submit a complaint prematurely, the infringer might delete the page or migrate hosts, destroying the evidence you need for legal damages or attribution.

Follow this clinical intake checklist before filing:

1. Defanged URL & DNS Snapshot:

Never click live links carelessly. Record the full target URL in defanged format (e.g., `target[.]com/stolen-product`). Query the domain using `dig` or public WHOIS tools to capture the current nameservers, A-records, and hosting provider.

1. Full-Page Archival (Not Just Cropped Screenshots):

A cropped mobile screenshot will not hold up under scrutiny from platform compliance or legal counsel. Capture full-page archived copies showing:

– Full browser address bar with URL and timestamp.

– Complete page layout including footer links and tracking codes.

– Utilize the Wayback Machine (web.archive.org) or archive.today to preserve an independent cryptographic snapshot of the live web page.

1. Telemetry & Source Proof:

Preserve your original files. Do not modify the original `.raw`, `.mov`, `.jpg`, or code repositories. Keep the original metadata intact to prove timestamp priority over the infringer's re-upload.

1. Cryptographic Hashing:

Run an SHA-256 hash against your evidence files. This proves mathematically that the evidence you collected on Day 1 was not altered, doctored, or tampered with prior to legal handoff.

If you have a cloned store, ripped video, or unauthorized mirror you need community feedback on, post with the [🚨 Active Infringement] flair and include your sanitized telemetry.