DMCA Policy

1. Introduction

The AA Directory and https://theaadirectory.com/ respect intellectual property rights and comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 ("DMCA"). This policy outlines our procedures for handling copyright claims and meeting information correction requests. We will respond expeditiously to valid claims of copyright infringement and requests to correct inaccurate meeting information.

2. Public Information and Meeting Data

Important Notice: The meeting information displayed on our Service consists primarily of publicly available data about Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. This includes meeting times, locations, contact information, and descriptions that are openly shared by AA groups and intergroups for public accessibility.

Public Information Principle: Generally, publicly available meeting information cannot be removed simply because someone requests it, as this information serves the important public purpose of helping people find recovery support. However, we will consider removal requests in the following limited circumstances:

• The information contains factual errors that could mislead people seeking meetings
• The meeting has been permanently discontinued and the listing is outdated
• There are legitimate copyright concerns regarding original creative content (not basic meeting details)
• The information poses genuine safety or privacy concerns

3. Meeting Information Correction Requests

If you believe meeting information on our site is inaccurate, outdated, or incorrect, please provide the following:

• Your name and contact information (email and phone number)
• Your relationship to the meeting (organizer, group member, intergroup representative, etc.)
• Specific URL or location of the incorrect information on our site
• Detailed description of what information is incorrect
• Correct information that should be displayed instead
• Documentation or proof of the correction:
  • Official communication from the AA group or intergroup
  • Updated meeting schedule or flyer
  • Contact information for the group's General Service Representative (GSR)
  • Verification from the meeting venue or facility
• A statement that you have a good faith belief that the information is inaccurate and that your correction request is legitimate

Verification Process: We may contact the meeting group, intergroup, or venue directly to verify correction requests before making changes to ensure accuracy.

4. DMCA Copyright Infringement Claims

If you believe that your copyrighted work has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement and is accessible on our website, please send a written DMCA notification that includes:

• A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or authorized agent
• Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed
• Identification of the allegedly infringing material (with specific URL or location on our site where the material appears)
• Your contact information (name, address, telephone number, and email address)
• A statement that you have a good faith belief that use of the material is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law
• A statement that the information in your notice is accurate and, under penalty of perjury, that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on their behalf

Note: Basic meeting information (times, locations, contact details) typically does not qualify for copyright protection as it consists of factual data. Copyright claims are more applicable to original creative content such as unique meeting descriptions, logos, or promotional materials.

5. How to Submit Requests

For Meeting Information Corrections: Send your request to contact@theaadirectory.com with "Meeting Information Correction" in the subject line.

For DMCA Copyright Claims: Send your DMCA notice to contact@theaadirectory.com with "DMCA Notice" in the subject line.

Response Time: We will process and investigate notices within 5-10 business days and take appropriate action when valid claims are submitted with proper documentation.

6. Counter-Notification Process

If material has been removed due to a DMCA notice and you believe the material was removed by mistake or misidentification, you may submit a counter-notification that includes:

• Your physical or electronic signature
• Identification of the material removed and its previous location on our site
• A statement under penalty of perjury that you have a good faith belief the material was removed or disabled as a result of mistake or misidentification
• Your name, address, phone number, and consent to federal district court jurisdiction
• A statement that you consent to service of process from the person who provided the original DMCA notification or an agent of such person

Upon receipt of a valid counter-notification, we may restore the removed material within 10-14 business days unless the original complainant files a court action seeking a restraining order.

7. Repeat Violations and Abuse

We take intellectual property violations seriously and will take appropriate action against repeat infringers, which may include permanently blocking access to our Service.

False Claims: Submitting false or bad faith DMCA notices or correction requests may result in legal liability under federal law. Please ensure all claims are accurate and made in good faith.

8. Fair Use and Public Interest

We respect fair use principles under copyright law and the public interest in providing access to recovery resources. Our use of meeting information serves the important public purpose of helping people find Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for recovery support. When evaluating requests, we consider the public benefit of maintaining accurate, accessible meeting information alongside legitimate copyright and privacy concerns.

9. Contact Information