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DMCA & Copyright Policy

Last Updated: March 24, 2026

MindForge ("we," "us," or "our") respects the intellectual property rights of others and expects our users to do the same. This policy outlines how we handle copyright concerns in accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and describes how content is used on the MindForge platform.

1. How MindForge Uses Third-Party Content

MindForge is a board gaming research and community platform. We aggregate and display content from various sources to help users discover and learn about board games. Here is how we use third-party content:

YouTube Videos

  • Videos are embedded using YouTube's official embed player, not downloaded or re-hosted.
  • Embedding is permitted under YouTube's Terms of Service and the YouTube API Terms.
  • We display video titles, thumbnails, and channel names as provided by the YouTube API.
  • We do not modify, edit, or re-upload any video content.

BoardGameGeek Data

  • We use BoardGameGeek game IDs to link users directly to BGG game pages for additional game information.
  • We do not store or redistribute BoardGameGeek content.
  • We link back to BoardGameGeek game pages where applicable.

Game Publisher Content

  • Game names, cover art, and descriptions are the property of their respective publishers.
  • This content is used under fair use principles for the purposes of commentary, criticism, research, and education within a gaming community context.
  • Use of game imagery and names is informational and non-commercial in nature.

Transcript Analysis

  • We may analyze publicly available video transcripts to extract board game references, recommendations, and discussion points.
  • Analysis results are transformative works — factual summaries and data points, not reproductions of the original content.
  • Original transcripts are not displayed in full to users.

2. Fair Use Statement

MindForge's use of third-party content is guided by the four factors of fair use under 17 U.S.C. Section 107:

  1. Purpose and Character: Our use is transformative — we aggregate, analyze, and present data to help users research board games, not to replace the original works.
  2. Nature of the Work: We primarily reference factual information (game names, player counts, ratings) and publicly available content.
  3. Amount Used: We use limited portions (thumbnails, titles, metadata) rather than reproducing works in their entirety.
  4. Effect on the Market: Our platform drives traffic to original sources (YouTube channels, BoardGameGeek, publisher sites) rather than competing with or substituting for them.

3. DMCA Takedown Procedure

If you believe that content on MindForge infringes your copyright, you may submit a DMCA takedown notice containing the following information:

  1. Your contact information: Full legal name, mailing address, phone number, and email address.
  2. Identification of the copyrighted work: A description of the copyrighted work you claim has been infringed.
  3. Identification of the infringing material: The specific URL(s) or description of where the allegedly infringing material appears on MindForge.
  4. Statement of good faith: A statement that you have a good faith belief that the use of the material is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
  5. Statement of accuracy: A statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on the owner's behalf.
  6. Signature: Your physical or electronic signature.

Send DMCA Notices To:

Email: contact@mindforge.games
Subject Line: DMCA Takedown Notice — [Brief Description]

Mail:
MindForge
755 N Shawnee St
Aurora, CO 80018
Attn: DMCA Agent

4. Response to DMCA Notices

Upon receiving a valid DMCA takedown notice, we will:

  1. Acknowledge receipt of the notice within 3 business days.
  2. Review the notice for completeness and validity.
  3. Remove or disable access to the allegedly infringing material promptly if the notice is valid.
  4. Notify the user who posted the content (if applicable) and provide them with a copy of the notice.

5. Counter-Notification

If you believe your content was removed in error or is not infringing, you may submit a counter-notification containing:

  1. Your contact information: Full legal name, mailing address, phone number, and email address.
  2. Identification of removed material: A description of the material that was removed and the URL where it appeared.
  3. Statement of good faith: A statement under penalty of perjury that you have a good faith belief that the material was removed as a result of mistake or misidentification.
  4. Consent to jurisdiction: A statement consenting to the jurisdiction of the federal court in your district (or Texas if you are outside the United States).
  5. Signature: Your physical or electronic signature.

Send counter-notifications to the same contact information listed in Section 3.

Upon receiving a valid counter-notification, we will:

  1. Forward it to the original complainant.
  2. Restore the removed material within 10–14 business days unless the complainant files a court action.

6. Repeat Infringers

MindForge will terminate the accounts of users who are repeat copyright infringers. We track DMCA complaints and may suspend or permanently ban users who receive multiple valid notices.

7. Content Creator Protections

MindForge is committed to supporting content creators:

  • Attribution: We credit YouTube creators by displaying channel names alongside embedded videos.
  • Traffic Generation: Our platform drives viewers to original content on YouTube and other platforms.
  • No Re-hosting: We never download, re-upload, or re-host video or audio content.
  • Opt-Out: Content creators who do not wish their content to appear on MindForge may contact us at contact@mindforge.games to request removal. We will honor such requests promptly.

8. User-Uploaded Content

Users may upload limited content to MindForge (such as profile images). By uploading content, users represent that:

  • They own the content or have the right to use it.
  • The content does not infringe on any third party's intellectual property rights.
  • They grant MindForge a license to display the content as described in our Terms of Service.

We reserve the right to remove any user-uploaded content that we believe infringes on third-party rights.

9. Contact Us

For copyright questions or concerns not related to a formal DMCA notice, contact us at:

Email: contact@mindforge.games
Website: mindforge.games