What Evidence Should I Collect Before Contacting an Attorney?

Copyright cases live and die on evidence. A tidy, well-dated file will get you a real evaluation on your first call; a shoebox of screenshots will not. Use this checklist to gather everything a copyright attorney is going to ask for anyway.

1. Evidence of the unauthorized use

• Direct URL(s) of every infringing post, page, or ad.
• Full screen recording with audio for each video/reel/story.
• Full-page screenshots showing the URL bar, timestamp, and content.
• The exact portion of your song used (start second → end second, total duration).
• View counts, like counts, comment counts, and follower counts at the time of capture.
• Any product tags, calls to action, or purchase links associated with the post.

2. Evidence about the infringer

• Account handles, display names, and any linked websites.
• Business entity name (if visible), any storefront address, and any email/contact.
• Whether the account is a personal, creator, or business account.
• Any prior contact between you and the infringer (DMs, emails).

3. Evidence of your ownership

• Copyright registration certificates (composition AND sound recording, if separate).
• Split sheets showing songwriter percentages.
• Producer agreements, work-for-hire agreements, and beat licenses.
• Distribution paperwork (DistroKid, TuneCore, UnitedMasters, label).
• Original session files, stems, and creation-date metadata if available.

4. Prior licensing history

• Any sync, master, or mechanical licenses you've granted for this song.
• Rate cards or previous quotes you've sent for similar uses (helps damages).
• Any prior takedowns, CCB claims, or settlements on the same work.

5. Organize it

Put everything in one dated folder named clearly (e.g. 2026-07-17 — Acme Restaurant unauthorized Reel). Inside, use subfolders for URLs, screenshots, screen recordings, ownership, and correspondence. This is exactly the structure GeeseTrace Intake asks you to upload — start there and you're already halfway done.