Before disabling any content in relation to this takedown notice, GitHub
- contacted the owners of the affected repositories to give them an opportunity to [make changes](https://docs.github.com/en/github/site-policy/dmca-takedown-policy#a-how-does-this-actually-work).
- provided information on how to [submit a DMCA Counter Notice](https://docs.github.com/en/articles/guide-to-submitting-a-dmca-counter-notice).
To learn about when and why GitHub may process some notices this way, please visit our [README](https://github.com/github/dmca/blob/master/README.md#anatomy-of-a-takedown-notice).
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Note: Because the reported network that contained the allegedly infringing content was larger than one hundred (100) repositories, and the submitter alleged that all or most of the forks were infringing to the same extent as the parent repository, GitHub processed the takedown notice against the entire network of 4,195 repositories, inclusive of the parent repository.
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Dear [private]
We represent WeChat International Pte. Ltd., Shenzhen Tencent Computer Systems Company Limited, and Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited (collectively “Tencent”). As you likely know, Tencent is the developer of—and owner of all intellectual property and other rights in and to—the popular messaging and social media platform Weixin, a service provided in mainland [private], as well as Weixin’s sister service WeChat, which is provided internationally (together, “WeChat/Weixin”). Tencent’s rights extend, without limitation, to all rights under U.S. and intentional copyright as well as under the Terms of Service promulgated by Tencent governing use of WeChat/Weixin.
Tencent uses numerous technological measures to ensure the privacy and security of personal communications and media transmitted using WeChat/Weixin, which are stored in encrypted form on users’ local devices using proprietary database methods. Such protections are crucial because they guarantee the integrity of a user’s entire history of interactions using WeChat/Weixin, including material subject to third-party copyright and privacy concerns.
It has come to our attention that GitHub is hosting multiple user repositories that illegally offer tools for circumventing Tencent’s methods for preventing unauthorized access to and reproduction of the entire message histories of WeChat/Weixin users, allowing their export and transmittal in unencrypted form. For purposes of background, on July 8, 2025, counsel for Tencent sent a notice to GitHub concerning the public availability on GitHub of such repositories, setting forth therein several ways that these materials endangered the security and privacy of WeChat/Weixin, violated U.S. and international law, and constituted breach of both the WeChat/Weixin and GitHub Terms of Service (the “July 8, 2025 Notice”). We refer you to GitHub Support Ticket Nos. 3548664, 3548668, and 3548845. Notwithstanding the July 8, 2025 Notice, the materials at issue were not removed, following a terse communication from GitHub
stating that it was not believed that such materials violated GitHub’s Terms of Service.
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