i would advise getting a lawyer to file it for you. I am there are a lot of things to think about and undergo, are you sure u want to just do it yourself? I mean sending a small email wont to do 0o u need to provide proof
People are going to take a DMCA notice a lot more seriously than just an email asking them to remove the content. I wouldn't mess around with the emails unless you are feeling particularly nice.
Well what about just as a formal like "Cease & Desist" complaint? I want to scare them but not really start any legal trouble
Just say you are breaking the law - name the act they are breaking (DMCA) - just make it look VERY formal, and scary. If it is not worth getting a laywer, then don't get one! Sending a letter really scares someone - but an email is better to start of with.
You can file a DMCA request yourself - just follow the various online guides to make sure it is in a proper format. There is absolutely no reason to hire an attorney. Almost all US hosts will act upon a DMCA because failure to do so exposes them to liability. Filing a false DMCA can result in a lawsuit with hefty damages. Google, Yahoo, MSN and your host is basically taking your word that the content is owned by you - the other party also has a chance to dispute your claim - but 99% of the time they are guilty and don't.
If you contact the ISP/datacenter who is providing the bandwidth to that website they will usually treat it seriously and require their client to remove it asap. If this doesn't work, involve a lawyer and seek legal action.
the dmca is very clear about the requirements, and a layperson should be able to send dmca's without an attorney.
just realized the poster and the author are the same person.... I thought this was someone seeking advice, doh.