DMCA & Copyright Policy

1. Our Copyright Position

busschedules.org/ publishes original editorial content — verified contact information, walkthroughs, comparison tables, and analysis. We do not host transit-agency schedules, fare tables, route maps, or other proprietary content as our own; we link to the agency's published versions. We do not republish news articles, station photographs, or copyrighted images of buses without permission or a fair-use basis.

If you believe content on the site infringes your copyright, this page tells you how to submit a takedown notice that complies with the DMCA.

2. The DMCA Framework

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, codified at 17 U.S.C. § 512, creates a “notice and takedown” framework. A copyright owner who believes their work has been used without authorisation submits a notice; the service provider expeditiously removes the material; the user who posted the material may submit a counter-notice; and the disputed material may be restored if the original notifier does not file suit within the statutory window.

3. How to Submit a DMCA Notice

Email a complete written notice to info@busschedules.org with subject line “DMCA notice.” Include all six elements set out below. We acknowledge receipt within 5 business days.

4. The Six Required Elements (17 U.S.C. § 512(c)(3))

1. Physical or electronic signature. A signature of a person authorised to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright that is allegedly infringed.
2. Identification of the work. Identify the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed — title, registration number (if any), and a copy of, or link to, the original work.
3. Identification of the allegedly infringing material. Provide the specific URL on busschedules.org/ and a description sufficient for us to locate it.
4. Contact information. Your name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address.
5. Good-faith statement. A statement that you have a good-faith belief that the use is not authorised by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
6. Statement under penalty of perjury. A statement that the information in the notice is accurate and, under penalty of perjury, that you are authorised to act for the copyright owner.

5. Designated Agent

busschedules.org/'s designated DMCA agent receives notices at info@busschedules.org. We do not currently have a postal service-of-process address open for general public use; for service of legal process beyond DMCA notices, please contact us first to arrange the appropriate channel.

6. What Happens After a Valid Notice

• We acknowledge receipt within 5 business days
• We expeditiously remove or disable access to the allegedly infringing material
• We notify the user or contributor who posted the material (where applicable)
• We log the notice for our repeat-infringer records
• If a valid counter-notice is received, we notify the original complainant; if no court action is filed within 10–14 business days, we may restore the material as permitted by § 512(g)

7. Counter-Notice Procedure (§ 512(g))

If your content was removed and you believe the removal was a mistake or misidentification, you may file a counter-notice. Email info@busschedules.org with subject line “DMCA counter-notice” and include:

• Your physical or electronic signature
• Identification of the material that has been removed and the URL where it appeared
• A statement under penalty of perjury that you have a good-faith belief the material was removed by mistake or misidentification
• Your name, address, and telephone number
• A statement consenting to jurisdiction of the federal district court for the judicial district where you live (or, if outside the U.S., for any judicial district where the service provider may be found) and that you will accept service of process from the original complainant

If the original notifier does not file a court action seeking to restrain you from using the material within 10–14 business days, we may restore the material consistent with § 512(g).

8. Repeat-Infringer Policy (§ 512(i))

busschedules.org/ has a policy of terminating, in appropriate circumstances, the access of users and contributors who are repeat infringers. We log DMCA notices and consider the cumulative pattern when determining whether termination is appropriate.

9. Misrepresentation Liability (§ 512(f))

10. Fair Use — 17 U.S.C. § 107

U.S. copyright law recognises fair use of copyrighted material for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Whether a particular use is fair is determined by four factors: (1) purpose and character of the use, (2) nature of the copyrighted work, (3) amount and substantiality of the portion used, and (4) effect on the potential market.

11. Trademark — Names of Agencies and Carriers

The names “Greyhound,” “FlixBus,” “Megabus,” “Peter Pan Bus Lines,” “Trailways,” “Jefferson Lines,” “RedCoach,” “OurBus,” “MTA,” “MBTA,” “WMATA,” “LA Metro,” “CTA,” “SEPTA,” “MARTA,” “BART,” “Muni,” “AC Transit,” “Houston Metro,” “Dallas DART,” “Denver RTD,” “TriMet,” “King County Metro,” “OMNY,” “Clipper,” “ORCA,” “SmarTrip,” “CharlieCard,” “TAP,” “Ventra,” and the names of every other transit agency, intercity carrier, and fare-card system mentioned on this site are the property of the relevant body. Our use is for the practical purpose of identifying the agency, carrier, or system each page covers — descriptive use that does not imply sponsorship, endorsement, or affiliation.

This is consistent with the doctrine of nominative fair use recognised in federal trademark law: when there is no other reasonable way to identify the agency, carrier, or system being discussed, use of the name is permitted provided the use does not suggest sponsorship or endorsement and does not use more of the mark than necessary.

If a transit agency, intercity carrier, fare-card system operator, or other rights-holder believes our use of its name on a specific page creates a likelihood of confusion as to source or sponsorship, please contact us with the page URL and we will respond promptly. We do not reproduce official logos, agency seals, or branded graphics — text references only.

12. Defamation Is Different from DMCA

The DMCA addresses copyright infringement only. Concerns about defamation, false statements about an agency or carrier, or invasion of privacy are governed by different bodies of law and require a separate process. Such concerns should be sent to info@busschedules.org with subject line “Editorial concern — non-DMCA.” We respond to good-faith concerns from agencies, carriers, and other parties; we apply New York Times v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964), and the body of First Amendment law that protects accurate reporting on matters of public concern.

13. Contact

For all DMCA matters, email info@busschedules.org. We do not accept DMCA notices through social media, contact forms, or other channels.