[grecy]

I had to dig into the FAQ [1] to find what I wanted:

"We removed 97% of search results specified in requests that we received between July and December 2011."

It doesn't say anything about how the requests must be formatted and if they are legally enforceable. i.e. Can just anyone submit a request? Does it have to include any kind of evidence?

[1]http://www.google.com/transparencyreport/removals/copyright/...

[magicalist]

The form is linked to multiple times in the same FAQ. If you want the DMCA requirements, you can find them here:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/512#c_3

edit: I'm not exactly sure what you're asking with "legally enforceable", but again, if you mean in terms of the DMCA, my understanding is that if a notification satisfies those requirements, you must comply. That's why the counter-notification process is so important.

[girlvinyl]

Small correction: You must comply if you intend to keep yourself protected by the safe-harbor provisions specified in the DMCA. If you do not comply, you then become exposed to liability, though not necessarily guilty of infringement.

[joshuahedlund]

I don't know about the enforcement/evidence, but the end of the original link sheds some light, sounds like they have a pretty mature process for trying to handle illegitimate requests:

> we try to catch erroneous or abusive removal requests.... [examples of bad requests]... We try to catch these ourselves, but we also notify webmasters in our Webmaster Tools when pages on their website have been targeted by a copyright removal request, so that they can submit a counter-notice if they believe the removal request was inaccurate.

[Natsu]

Google has a form you fill out that makes you put in all of the proper info. The DMCA itself spells out the requirements for what you must include and it does have some provisions that describe what happens if the notice is only partially defective.

Formatting isn't really an issue, the real issues are whether the notice contains the proper information and whether it's sent to the right place.

As always, get proper legal advice if any of this information is of more than academic interest to you.