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I'm pretty sure sending fake DMCA requests is illegal, and it doesn't matter if it's a mistake.

It's illegal only if it was intentional. A mistakenly sent DMCA request is okay, as long as the sender follows up with a disregard notice.

Was it?

There were no takedown requests. The whole discussion is moot.

but what he's saying is he sent a notice of a DMCA takedown, not an actual takedown request.