Oops, you're right. You do still have to make that statement under penalty of perjury that has never, to my knowledge, been enforced, about representing the rightsholder and having a good faith belief that something is infringing.
Sorry my statement was so terse. After getting some much needed sleep and rereading it, I most certainly could have written it better/nicer.
Bogus DMCA take-down requests from unknown/anonymous/incorrect entities are actually a significant problem. It would be nice if you were right and only lawyers could send such requests (and risk being disbarred for intentionally misrepresenting facts). Sadly, any anonymous nut-job can send DMCA take-down requests for any reason, and like spam, they can get away with it. I've seen no cases where the stated "penalty of perjury" has actually been prosecuted.
This is incorrect. Anyone operating with the consent of the rightsholder can send a DMCA take-down request. You do not have to be a lawyer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Ac...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_Copyright_Infringement_L...