Instagram Guide

How to Report Copyright Infringement on Instagram

On Instagram, infringement is usually a repost of your photo, video, or reel without credit, or an account using your registered brand name or logo in its username or profile.

🕑 Guide last reviewed: July 2026. Instagram's own process can change; the official link above is always the source of truth.

Instagram and Facebook are both owned by Meta and share the same IP reporting system, so the process, and the form itself, is nearly identical across both platforms.

Important: Self-help templates and general information only, not legal advice. Using this site doesn't create an attorney-client relationship, and we're not affiliated with any platform named on this page. Full details in our Terms of Service.

Step-by-step process

1

Determine the type of issue

Copyright covers your original content being reused without permission; trademark covers brand-name or logo confusion, which is a separate report.

2

Open the right Meta form

Use Instagram's copyright reporting form for content, or Meta's IP Reporting Form for trademark and impersonation issues.

3

Provide your evidence

Link to your original work or trademark registration, the exact infringing post or profile URL, and your contact information.

4

Submit and wait for review

Meta reviews IP reports and typically responds within a few business days, notifying both you and the reported account of the outcome.

Instagram Copyright Report Form →
⏱️ Typical response time: a few business days per Meta's stated process
Evidence Checklist

What to have ready

  • Direct link to the infringing post (not just the profile)
  • Screenshot with visible username and timestamp
  • Link to your original post or trademark registration

Need the notice text?

Use our free generator to draft the actual copyright notice or cease-and-desist language, then paste it into Instagram's report form above.

Generate Your Notice →

Common Mistakes That Delay This Process

Meta's review looks at the specific post or profile you report, but a documented pattern of infringement from the same account can lead to broader enforcement, including account-level restrictions, not just removal of the one post. If you report an account for impersonation rather than a copied post, that claim is reviewed under Meta's separate trademark and impersonation process, which can move on a different timeline than a straightforward copyright report.

Repeat Infringement and Broader Enforcement

Instagram shares its enforcement history with Facebook under Meta's system, so repeated valid reports against the same account can lead to platform-wide consequences, not just removal on Instagram specifically. If your content keeps reappearing under new posts from the same account, filing a fresh, complete report each time, rather than replying to the original one, keeps a clear record Meta can act on. Accounts that primarily exist to repost others' content without adding anything original are also more likely to face account-level review once a pattern is documented.

Frequently Asked Questions About Instagram Takedowns

Meta may share your name and email with the reported account as part of the review. This is disclosed upfront, so plan for it, or file through an authorized agent instead.
Yes, but that's typically a trademark/impersonation report rather than a copyright report.
Threads is also part of Meta's ecosystem. Check Meta's current Help Center, since the exact reporting path there can change independently of Instagram's.
File a new report for the new post. Meta doesn't automatically apply a prior decision to unrelated content from the same account.
Yes, Stories are reportable too, but you need to capture and report it while it's still live, since Stories expire after 24 hours by default.
No, Reels go through the same copyright reporting form as any other Instagram content. You just need the direct link to the specific Reel.
Giving credit doesn't grant permission. Unauthorized use is still reportable even if the poster credited you, though it may affect how you choose to handle it.
The same copyright reporting form applies, though Meta's advertising review policies may also come into play separately from the standard copyright process.
Yes, if the content is still visible in an active Highlight, it's reportable using the same form. Provide the most specific link or context you can.

Related Guides

🎵 TikTok

TikTok infringement usually means someone re-uploaded your video or audio without credit,…

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🐦 X (Twitter)

On X, infringement is typically someone reposting your image or video as their own, or…

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👥 Facebook

Facebook infringement typically means someone uploaded your photos, videos, or written…

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See all platform guides →

Need to report infringement somewhere else? See the full Platform Guides directory.