DMCA Notice & Takedown Policy

1. Designated Agent for Copyright Complaints

If you believe that content hosted on or accessible through our services infringes your copyright, please send a written notification to our designated agent:

Welcome to Whatcom LLC does not claim ownership of MLS listing content, including photographs. Copyright in listing photographs is held by the listing broker, the photographer, or both.

2. How to Submit a Proper DMCA Notice

To be effective, a DMCA takedown notice must be a written communication that includes the following:

1. A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf.
2. Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed (or, if multiple works are involved, a representative list).
3. Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing and information reasonably sufficient to permit us to locate the material (e.g., a URL or description of where the content appears).
4. Your contact information, including your name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address.
5. A statement that you have a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
6. A statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in the notification is accurate, and that you are the copyright owner or are authorized to act on behalf of the owner.

Format Tips

• Please send your notice in writing (email is acceptable).
• Clearly label the subject line as "DMCA Takedown Notice."
• Include direct links to the allegedly infringing material whenever possible.

3. What We Do Upon Receipt

Upon receiving a valid DMCA notice, we may take the following actions:

• Remove or disable access to the allegedly infringing material.
• Notify the content provider, member, or user that the material has been removed or disabled.
• Terminate the accounts of repeat infringers in appropriate circumstances.

Any DMCA notices received by Welcome to Whatcom LLC will be forwarded to DMCAnotice@MLSGrid.com within 24 hours of receipt.

Welcome to Whatcom LLC claims no ownership of MLS listing content, including photographs, descriptions, and other data provided by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) via MLS Grid. Copyright in listing photographs and content is held by the listing broker, photographer, or their assigns as applicable.

Misuse Warning: Please be aware that under Section 512(f) of the DMCA, any person who knowingly materially misrepresents that material is infringing may be subject to liability for damages, including costs and attorneys' fees.

4. Counter-Notification

If you believe that content you posted was wrongly removed or disabled as a result of a DMCA notice, you may submit a counter-notification to our designated agent. Your counter-notification must include:

1. Your physical or electronic signature.
2. Identification of the material that was removed or disabled, and the location at which the material appeared before it was removed or disabled.
3. A statement under penalty of perjury that you have a good faith belief that the material was removed or disabled as a result of mistake or misidentification.
4. Your name, address, and telephone number, and a statement that you consent to the jurisdiction of the federal court for the judicial district in which your address is located (or, if outside the U.S., any judicial district in which we may be found), and that you will accept service of process from the person who filed the original DMCA notice or an agent of such person.

Upon receiving a valid counter-notification, we will forward a copy to the original complaining party. If the original complaining party does not file a court action within 10–14 business days, we may restore the removed content.

5. Repeat Infringer Policy

In accordance with the DMCA and other applicable law, we have adopted a policy of terminating, in appropriate circumstances and at our sole discretion, users or account holders who are deemed to be repeat infringers. We may also, at our sole discretion, limit access to our services or terminate the accounts of any users who infringe any intellectual property rights of others, whether or not there is any repeat infringement.

6. Listing Data and Photographs

Real estate listing photographs displayed on this Site are copyrighted by the listing broker, photographer, or their assigns. Downloading, copying, screen-capturing, or any reproduction of listing photographs is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of the copyright holder.

User-uploaded content, such as profile photos, is also subject to this DMCA process. If you believe that a user-uploaded image infringes your copyright, you may submit a DMCA notice to our designated agent using the process described in Section 2.

If you believe a listing photograph or other MLS-sourced content on this Site infringes your copyright, you may send a DMCA notice to our designated agent at legal@welcometowhat.com or to MLS Grid's designated DMCA agent at DMCAnotice@MLSGrid.com. We will promptly remove or disable access to the allegedly infringing material upon receipt of a valid notice.

For complete MLS data usage terms, please see Section 5 of our Terms of Service.

7. Standard Technical Measures

We accommodate and do not interfere with standard technical measures used by copyright owners to identify and protect copyrighted works, as defined in Section 512(i)(2) of the DMCA.

8. Not Legal Advice

This policy is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you are unsure whether material infringes your copyright or whether your material was wrongly removed, we encourage you to consult a qualified attorney.

9. Updates to This Policy

We may update this DMCA policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Your continued use of our services after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact

For DMCA-related inquiries, contact us at legal@welcometowhat.com. For MLS listing-related copyright claims, you may also contact DMCAnotice@MLSGrid.com. For general privacy inquiries, contact us at privacy@welcometowhat.com.

See also our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.