Ask HN: Why can't Google determine ownership of copyright

I have recently submitted multiple DMCA requests to Google re a new site plagiarising the entire contents of a site which has been in existence for over 12 years.

I have provided archive.org URLs which clearly show the content has been in existence for multiple years (since 2006).

However, in some instances Google are stating they can not determine I am the copyright owner and have rejected, so far, 2 instances despite accepting more than 50 similar examples?

What is more galling though is that the offending site is currently ranking #1 in search for the titles of both offending pages. My own pages are nowhere to be seen.

This isn't the first time this has happened and I am beginning to wonder if it just isn't a simple reverse seo strategy that anyone with a bit of time on their hands can implement?

I should add that I am in the UK and the other site's host is US based. They are not being helpful either, thus far their response has been to say 'get a lawyer'.