DCMA rectified but site still shut down

Store Design

Topic summary

Issue: Store taken offline after a DMCA (copyright takedown) notice tied to theme licensing. Merchant says Shopify support initially called the notice a phishing hoax, but the site was still disabled.

Actions taken: Merchant purchased the theme license and the theme provider sent proof of purchase to Shopify within ~5 hours. After 24 hours, the site remained down; concern another owned site might be taken down in 2 days.

Update/Outcome: Reported restoration occurred ~30 hours after payment/proof submission. Merchant states Shopify Legal did not reply; theme provider replied a few times. Another user experiencing the same asked for timelines and tips.

Advice shared: “Be a pest”—email both Shopify Legal and the theme provider repeatedly to push verification. No official expedited pathway mentioned.

Status: Partially resolved for the original store (back online after ~30 hours). Ongoing worry about a second site and unclear official response times.

Open questions: Why a notice labeled as phishing still led to takedown; expected SLA for reactivation after proof; clearer process for theme-license DMCA disputes.

Summarized with AI on December 14. AI used: gpt-5.
1

I received a DCMA notice only 3 day ago. Shopify support confirmed it was a hoax phishing email so I left it. To my surprise I woke up today to my site dalua.com down!

I immediately purchased the theme as instructed. The company I purchased the theme from within 5 hours sent the confirmation and receipt to shopify and now 24 hours still nothing!!! Site shut down and this company wants me to pay again for another site I own that will be taken down in 2 days as well!!

Literally 10 years of business with shopify down the drain and legal is yet to respond or approve the theme. It’s literally one button!!

Disgusting service from shopify. I ha e already told my industry if 180 stories using shopify of my situation and it scared them enough for all of us to start looking at other Web providers.

24 HOURS AND NO RESPONSE. DISGUSTING

2

Same happened to me recently. Its been over 24 hours. How long did it take to get back online. Any tips to expedite the process would be greatly appreciated?

3

Be a pest!! I emailed literally 50 times to both the theme owners and shopify legal. Shopify never replied once and the theme providers replied maybe 2 or 3 times. The site came back online after approximately 30 hours after payment.