homepage deindex - what next?

[Stifmeister]

So there comes a time when the homepage gets deindexed due to heavy dmca, takes quite a while to happen - but when it does, what do you guys do next? Do you create a "landing-page" homepage that does not have any DMCA material on it?
Can your page get deindexed due to DMCA if it links to other pages in your site that has copyrighted content? Is the solution then to create a clean page that links to another clean page which then links to copyrighted content?


Any strats on dealing with it?

(P.S dmca is unavoidable for my niche, im asking people who also ignore dmca on their sites)

 

[CuiBap Agency]

You should use the "Double Buffer" strategy: a clean homepage leads to a buffer page, which then leads to the infringing content, to protect your domain. If deindexed, the only way is to use a 301 redirect to a new domain and direct users to Telegram/Discord.

 

[Starblazer]

Most piracy sites get away with it by having a search bar and a link to full home page on their landing page.

 

[Stifmeister]

You should use the "Double Buffer" strategy: a clean homepage leads to a buffer page, which then leads to the infringing content, to protect your domain. If deindexed, the only way is to use a 301 redirect to a new domain and direct users to Telegram/Discord.

I'm looking for the most user-friendly solution, hosting the content is not a problem - the problem is having some form of homepage indexed.
So "double buffer" - would mean having a clean page called "welcome" it would link to a clean page named "categories" which then loads the copyrighted material page? This would circumvent DMCA?

Can a page that links to piracy/copyrighted material be also considered to infringe copyright and be taken down?

Deindex can happen due to meta noindex, robots rules, or big content changes. Double-check those and resubmit sitemap.”

That's not what this thread is about.

 

[FillipBozilinski]

Not much you can do. I assume you're hosting leaked content, which I also do, and I often face my homepage getting deindexed. I usually use counter notices, and it gets indexed again, but it will eventually be deindexed at some point. So, from my perspective, there's no real solution for that.

 

[IvanRF]

Interesting thread. In cases like this, people usually create a clean homepage with no problematic content and no direct links to it. this can work but it’s only a way to reduce risk.
The issue isn’t a specific page, it’s the domain as a whole - google loses trust in the entire site. Deindexing often happens because of accumulated complaints and a certain behavioral pattern of the site, not because of a single instance of copyrighted content.

 

[NightOwl_HQ]

Yes, creating a clean homepage or landing page without DMCA content helps maintain indexing, and linking to other clean pages first can reduce the risk of your main pages getting deindexed.

 

[nigunim]

Once the homepage gets hit, most people move it to a clean branded landing page and push all risky content deeper in the structure. Yes, a page can get deindexed if it's clearly funneling users to infringing pages, especially with obvious internal linking. The usual approach is separation: neutral homepage, neutral category layer and keep DMCA-prone pages isolated and replaceable. There's no permanent fix-just damage control and fast recovery.

 

[Stifmeister]

Not much you can do. I assume you're hosting leaked content, which I also do, and I often face my homepage getting deindexed. I usually use counter notices, and it gets indexed again, but it will eventually be deindexed at some point. So, from my perspective, there's no real solution for that.

How do you challenge the notice if you're clearly in the wrong?

Once the homepage gets hit, most people move it to a clean branded landing page and push all risky content deeper in the structure. Yes, a page can get deindexed if it's clearly funneling users to infringing pages, especially with obvious internal linking. The usual approach is separation: neutral homepage, neutral category layer and keep DMCA-prone pages isolated and replaceable. There's no permanent fix-just damage control and fast recovery.

Manual action will be always impossible to avoid, but 99.99% of all DMCA nowadays is automated, you don't need to trick a human, you need to somehow go around rulta and other dmca spam services

 

[nigunim]

How do you challenge the notice if you're clearly in the wrong?


Manual action will be always impossible to avoid, but 99.99% of all DMCA nowadays is automated, you don't need to trick a human, you need to somehow go around rulta and other dmca spam services

True - most DMCA hits now are automated and pattern-based, not human-reviewed. The real game is avoiding obvious fingerprints those services scan for (URLs, filenames, templates, link paths), not "appealing" anything. People who survive long term focus on footprint reduction and fast asset rotation, not trying to beat manual review.

 

[Stifmeister]

True - most DMCA hits now are automated and pattern-based, not human-reviewed. The real game is avoiding obvious fingerprints those services scan for (URLs, filenames, templates, link paths), not "appealing" anything. People who survive long term focus on footprint reduction and fast asset rotation, not trying to beat manual review.

Problem with that is it's very hard to rank on google for people searching for the copyrighted stuff.

That's the difficult part, keeping high ranks whilst rotating links isn't easy and google finds spammy often. But the homepage is crucial for "returning customers"

 

[alonelywriter]

I also get DMCA, but for my product pages.
I do this - Change url of my product page, then redirect old url to new url. That way the new url gets indexed and when it again gets DMCA'ed, i repeat the same. I have done this around 10-12 times for a single page in my website. And it always gets ranked again in the same position.

 

[theusualkeysersoze]

I also get DMCA, but for my product pages.
I do this - Change url of my product page, then redirect old url to new url. That way the new url gets indexed and when it again gets DMCA'ed, i repeat the same. I have done this around 10-12 times for a single page in my website. And it always gets ranked again in the same position.

Interesting, how long does that last per domain?

 

[alonelywriter]

Interesting, how long does that last per domain?

It's been working since past two years.

 

[ZenithZeus]

Once a homepage is hit by DMCA, the usual move is rebuilding it as a fully clean, compliant page and isolating risky content deeper, since even indirect linking can still trigger deindexing over time.

 

[Crazy Monkey]

When a homepage gets deindexed due to DMCA, the best move is to create a clean landing page with no copyrighted content. Yes, your page can still be affected if it links to infringing pages, so keep clean pages separate.

 

[Stifmeister]

When a homepage gets deindexed due to DMCA, the best move is to create a clean landing page with no copyrighted content. Yes, your page can still be affected if it links to infringing pages, so keep clean pages separate.

what if the homepage is "clean" and it links to other pages that are also technically "clean", but those second pages then link to the actual content.

Technically speaking, the homepage is not linking to copyrighted content, it's linking to a deindexed page and thats it.

 

[Herry412]

When a homepage gets deindexed due to DMCA, most people separate risk from authority.

Common approaches:

• Create a clean, neutral homepage (no copyrighted content) focused on brand, categories, or info
• Push risky content deeper into the site, not directly linked from the homepage
• Avoid direct internal links from clean pages to DMCA-heavy pages (use hub layers)

Yes, a homepage can be affected if it strongly links to infringing pages. A cleaner structure usually helps recovery, but DMCA-heavy niches are always a risk management game, not a permanent fix.

 

[Stifmeister]

When a homepage gets deindexed due to DMCA, most people separate risk from authority.

Common approaches:

• Create a clean, neutral homepage (no copyrighted content) focused on brand, categories, or info
• Push risky content deeper into the site, not directly linked from the homepage
• Avoid direct internal links from clean pages to DMCA-heavy pages (use hub layers)

Yes, a homepage can be affected if it strongly links to infringing pages. A cleaner structure usually helps recovery, but DMCA-heavy niches are always a risk management game, not a permanent fix.

what are "(use hub layers)" ?

 

[ikonne]

When a homepage is deindexed due to DMCA, the practical solution is to rebuild it as a completely clean page with no copyrighted material and no clear pathways to infringing content, since Google evaluates overall site intent and linking structure—not just whether the homepage itself is “clean.”