How do copyright takedowns work for servers in Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan?

Does the DMCA apply in Hong Kong, Singapore or Japan?

No. The DMCA is United States law: its notice-and-takedown rules sit in section 512 of Title 17 of the US Code. A server in Hong Kong falls under the Copyright Ordinance (Cap. 528), whose own notice system has applied since 1 May 2023. Singapore and Japan apply their own statutes too, as read on 2 November 2026.

The US Copyright Office describes section 512 as safe harbours for four types of online service providers. A notice that cites it has no special status in Asia. What counts there is a notice that meets the local statute's form.

How does a takedown work in Hong Kong?

Through Division IIIA of the Copyright Ordinance, in force since 1 May 2023. A service provider escapes damages if it meets four conditions in section 88B:

• it takes reasonable steps to limit or stop the infringement after a notice or awareness;
• it receives no financial benefit directly attributable to the infringement;
• it accommodates standard technical measures;
• it names an agent to receive notices, with contact details on its website.

Under section 88C, the notice must be in writing and identify the work and the material. It needs a good-faith statement, an address for service in Hong Kong and a declaration of accuracy. A notice that misses these points has no effect.

The host may forward the notice, remove the material and tell the customer. The customer can reply with a counter notice under section 88E. To keep its immunity, the host then reinstates within a reasonable time, unless told of court proceedings in Hong Kong.

A knowingly or recklessly false statement in either notice is an offence under section 88F: a level 2 fine and two years in prison.

How does a takedown work in Singapore?

Through Part 6, Division 2 of the Copyright Act 2021. For material stored at a user's direction, section 318 limits remedies when the provider:

• takes no directly attributable financial benefit where it can control the infringement;
• removes or disables the copy expeditiously after knowledge or a take-down notice;
• designates a representative to receive notices and publishes their details.

Section 322 protects a provider that removes in good faith and notifies the uploader. If the uploader sends a restoration notice, the provider tells the complainant. To stay protected, it restores 10 to 14 working days later, unless proceedings are brought.

Separately, section 325 lets the court order network connection providers to block a "flagrantly infringing online location". It is aimed at the providers that carry users' connections.

How does a takedown work in Japan?

Through Act No. 137 of 2001, known until April 2025 as the Provider Liability Limitation Act. e-Gov lists its current version in force from 17 July 2026.

• Article 3(1): a provider is liable to the rights holder only if blocking was technically possible. It must also have known of the infringement, or known of the information with good reason to suspect it.
• Article 3(2): a provider that blocks is not liable to the sender when it had good reason to believe rights were infringed. It is also covered if the sender, once asked, did not object within seven days.
• Article 5 and Chapter 4: a rights holder can seek disclosure of the sender's identifying information, including through a court order.

The 2025 changes added duties for designated large platforms in Chapter 5. They apply only to providers the ministry designates.

What do the three systems share?

Each protects a host that acts in good faith, and none makes it a judge of copyright.

Hong Kong (section 88B(5)) and Singapore (section 320) both state that the provider has no duty to monitor its service. Both protect a provider from claims when it removes material in good faith and follows the procedure. Japan reaches a similar result through its knowledge test. In all three, a valid notice shifts the risk onto a host that ignores it.

How do Asian hosts say they handle copyright complaints?

Mostly by following them. In Copperstrait's survey of 33 hosts selling bare metal in Asia on 2 November 2026, 12 say they follow DMCA-style notice and takedown. 9 handle copyright under local law and 1 forwards notices to the customer.

1 says it ignores DMCA notices and 10 state no policy. City facts are on Hong Kong as a hosting location and Japan as a hosting location.

What is not allowed on a Copperstrait server?

Prohibited: spam or bulk email, phishing, malware or botnet control, DDoS or other attacks, scanning or brute-forcing systems you do not own, booter or stresser services, carding or fraud, child sexual abuse material, cryptocurrency mining, IPTV or the public distribution of films, series, music, games or software you hold no rights to, and any service to sanctioned people or companies.

Copperstrait is operated by DomaineGoat LLC, incorporated in Panama and answerable to Panamanian law only. The datacenter in each city is bound by the law of the place it stands in. How complaints are handled is set out in the acceptable use policy and the terms. Prices are on how much a Copperstrait server costs.

This page sums up published law and is not legal advice.