Can I advertise a streaming site, download tool, or DVD ripper?
Direct answerGoogle does not allow ads for sites or software that capture, copy, or provide access to copyrighted content without authorization, or for tools that strip DRM. Examples include unauthorized movies, music, games, e-books, and DVD rippers. If you own the rights or you are licensed, you still need Google’s copyright certification, and each domain needs its own.
What the destination is selling
Google’s Copyrights policy, reviewed on September 27, 2026, draws three lines. The example lists are not exhaustive.
| Not allowed | Examples on the page |
|---|---|
| Sites or software that capture, copy, or provide access | Unauthorized streaming, sharing, copying, or downloading of audio guides, e-books, anime, games, movies, ringtones, music, software, or TV |
| Unauthorized offline copies | Sites that offer unauthorized physical CDs, DVDs, or software |
| Tools that remove DRM | Blu-ray or DVD rippers, burners, and converters that strip or bypass DRM on audio, video, e-books, or software |
Google says the DRM ban applies irrespective of whether the intended use is legitimate. Using a licensed track inside your own ad is music, UGC, and logo rights. A lookalike product is dupes and counterfeits.
Certification is tied to the domain
If you are legally allowed to use the content, or you own it, Google requires certification before that content runs in Google Ads or Display & Video 360. Use the form linked from the Copyrights policy for the domain, YouTube channel, or landing page that was flagged. An agency has to send proof of its relationship with the advertiser or the license holder.
Each domain needs its own certification, including a country domain such as example.com versus example.co.uk. One certification covers every country served by that same domain. Google’s trademark troubleshooter is a different process. Bidding on a competitor’s name is trademark bidding.
A complaint is not a normal disapproval
If Google receives a copyright complaint about the ad or the destination, the ad may be disapproved. To send it back, Google says you first file a counter-notification that complies with the DMCA, using the form on that policy page. Only the copyright owner or an authorized representative can file the original notice. Google says a false claim that your content does not infringe can make you liable for damages, including costs and attorneys’ fees, and it suggests talking to an attorney if you are unsure.
Resubmitting without a valid counter-notification may terminate the account under the repeat-infringement policy. If you file a valid counter-notification and the claimant starts a lawsuit, the ads stay disapproved until a court order in your favor. If you cannot clear the work, remove it or change the destination, then edit the ad so both are reviewed. Google says most of those reviews finish within one business day.
Setup workflow
- Sort the offer: a song inside your own ad, a site or app that gives people the copyrighted work, a tool that strips DRM, or a trademark in the headline.
- Unauthorized streaming, copying, downloading, or physical copies are not allowed. DRM rippers are not allowed even if you describe the use as legitimate.
- If you own the work or you are licensed, apply with the form on Google’s Copyrights page for the exact domain or YouTube channel that was flagged.
- After a copyright complaint, file a valid counter-notification before you resubmit. Do not send a counter-notice you cannot stand behind.
- A competitor’s brand in the ad is the trademark page, not this certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Does one copyright certificate cover my .com and my .co.uk?
No. Google says each domain needs its own copyright certification, including country-specific domains. One certification covers all countries served by the same domain.
Can I turn the ad back on after a DMCA complaint?
Google says you must first file a DMCA counter-notification that meets the statute, using the form linked from the Copyrights policy. Resubmitting without a valid counter-notification may end the account under the repeat-infringement policy. If the claimant then sues, the ads stay disapproved until a court order in your favor.
Sources
This reading is as of September 27, 2026. It is not legal advice about whether a particular use is licensed.
Check whether the page is giving the work away
LaunchGuarding reads the ad and the destination, which is where an unauthorized stream usually sits.