As a content creator or brand flourishing on YouTube videos, you’re on your way to monetizing your content, but you suddenly receive a copyright strike. As a YouTube channel owner, you should be aware of the various legal aspects associated with YouTube. It’s important to understand that there are a number of complicated issues related to digital rights management and your responsibilities and obligations as a YouTube creator. By the way, receiving a copyright strike or claims, which can occur if someone asserts that their content, including a video clip, was used without permission, is considered one of the biggest challenges if you’re creating videos for YouTube. If you require assistance to better understand these issues, I’m here to help.
Table of Contents
In this article, we will look into📝:
- Understanding copyright strikes and claims©️: If you are a creator or brand on YouTube, the term “copyright claim” or “strike” is no alien word to you. Here, we will explore what you need to know about copyright infringement and the difference between a copyright strike and claims.
- What to do after receiving a copyright strike♾️: I’ve written down the steps you should take as a responsible creator if you’ve received a sudden copyright strike. Please make sure you go through it thoroughly.
- Step-by-step guide to removing a copyright strike:✅ If you or your channel received a copyright strike, I’ve clearly laid out a step-by-step guide to help you with the counter-notification process to remove the strike and restore your video.
- Tips to avoid copyright strikes or claims for YouTube videos▶️: Yes, here are some bonus tips and personal tricks to help you successfully manage copyright claims and strikes on YouTube.
Before panicking about getting a claim or strike, what you need to do is understand the situation, be patient, and learn what you can do to overcome it. As I’ve figured out how to counter such claims, I’ve put down my own perspective on the clearing process in this article to help you continue monetizing your YouTube video journey.
Understanding Copyright Strikes and Copyright Claims
Before knowing how to avoid copyright infringement, you should understand every nuance of what copyright actually is. Copyright law governs intellectual property. It protects original works that people create, such as music, artwork, movies, books, photographs, architectural designs, and much more. It’s important to note that copyright does not protect discoveries, ideas, concepts, or procedures.
Ah~ There’s nothing like a copyright claim email from YouTube on a Monday afternoon 🏝️
And for a video I uploaded 5 MONTHS AGO which is absolutely fair use!! 🤦🤦♂️🤦♀️
Any other creators suddenly getting hit by Paramount for Sonic Movie content? 😕 pic.twitter.com/tUEbPZ6ESd
— JustJesss 🕹️ (@JesssAdel) April 27, 2020
To help you understand the concept better, let me give you an example. If you come up with a beautiful idea for a song, you can’t copyright the idea itself. However, if you finish writing and recording it, the song becomes your original work, and you are automatically considered the copyright owner. This means the creator has all the rights to control how their work is used, distributed, or monetized.
Now, regarding copyright strikes: A copyright strike is issued to a YouTube creator who uploads a video containing audio, images, or artwork that the creator does not have the rights or license to use. A YouTube copyright strike, also known as a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) strike, is essentially a warning issued by the platform to the channel owner for violating the platform’s copyright policy.
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In this case, if the original copyright holder finds that your video violates their rights, they can ask YouTube to take your video down. This means the video won’t be able to generate ad revenue or will no longer be viewable. (They can also choose to monetize the ad revenue themselves.)
Copyright claims and strikes can also affect a creator’s application to join the YouTube Partner Program, as compliance with YouTube’s guidelines and policies is crucial for monetization approval.
YouTube’s Current Copyright Policy
YouTube is a video-sharing platform used by billions of people worldwide, and it takes copyright infringement seriously. The platform has solid guidelines that match copyright policies in the USA, and it states very clearly that:
“Creators should only upload videos that they have made or that they’re authorized to use. Users should not upload videos that they didn’t make or use content in videos that someone else owns without necessary authorizations.”
PS: You do not (I repeat, you DO NOT) want to receive any copyright strikes against your channel. If you receive repeated copyright offenses, your channel can be suspended or terminated by YouTube permanently.
My close friend, who is a YouTuber, has gone through a similar experience and shared this with me: “I won a copyright strike (fair use is a real thing)… I encourage every NewTuber (especially those who have faceless channels or make video essays) to read about Fair Use and understand it very well before taking clips from other channels or documentaries and stuff like that because, believe me, you will one day get copystriked, and it won’t be a fun experience.”
so apparently my “reacting to old vines” video got a copyright claim from…………. myself. this has to be a first. pic.twitter.com/rRTUIJQFZR
— Drew Gooden (@drewisgooden) November 16, 2018
When the original rights owner files a DMCA takedown request, copyright strikes are activated manually. Once YouTube receives the correct information and thoroughly understands what was taken without permission, it will remove the video in question from the uploader’s channel.
What is a Copyright Claim?
Copyright claims are different from copyright strikes. A copyright claim is a notification sent by YouTube’s Content ID system. Only certain channel owners typically have Content ID claims, and these claims come with monetization, tracking, or viewing restriction rules. If your video contains a portion that matches another copyrighted work, the system can automatically detect it and notify the owner.
The rights owners have full control over their Content ID policy, and they can decide to monetize the video by funneling the advertising revenue as compensation, or they may choose not to take it down because they allow their content to remain published on the uploader’s channel. Confusing, right?
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Here are the points to keep in mind while understanding copyright claims:
- A YouTube copyright claim will never affect your channel or your revenue.
- There are chances where the original rights holder can claim the revenue on your video if you have used their content.
- The actual rights holder can place ads on your video to generate that revenue as part of compensation.
- There are also cases where copyright holders restrict your video in some countries or regions.
- The copyright holder may also choose to take no action (but don’t rely on that; you won’t know when they’ll change their minds!).
- A claim can be proven false depending upon whether you really own the content that is being claimed by someone else.
Ps: Copyright claims are not as bad or challenging as receiving a copyright strike
Receiving a Copyright Takedown Notice: What to Do Next
Normally, if you’ve violated YouTube’s copyright policy, you’ll receive a formal request from the copyright owner to take down the video responsible for the violation. If you’ve faced this situation, I can fully understand what you might be going through. There would be a lot of panic, and it can be stressful imagining your money/earnings being put on hold until the claims have been cleared.
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This is a personal tip that I really want you to take seriously. When receiving a copyright strike, you might have the tendency to delete or repeatedly dispute the same video. If it’s a copyright claim, you can dispute it multiple times, but when it comes to a copyright strike, your disputes can be rejected, which can cause further issues.
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However, you should not delete or repeatedly dispute the video at all. This can worsen the situation and negatively impact your channel features like live streaming and monetization.
If you delete your video, you won’t be able to remove or continue the process to reinstate your monetization or channel’s progress. However, creators can easily utilize the opportunity to redeem themselves by completing YouTube’s copyright school within 90 days. Again, keep two things in mind: you should not receive a second strike before the first one expires (90 days), and if you do, the account will pause for another 90 days.
If you receive a third strike before the first two expire, your account will be terminated, and all uploaded videos will be removed.
If you’re willing to pay extra money and face legal challenges, well, best of luck, but try not to lose the case.
How To Remove Copyright Strike
As I said, even if you remove the offending video from YouTube, it won’t remove the strike from your channel. So, the best course of action is to sit tight, avoid any more violations, and wait for the strike to expire unless you think you have true grounds to file a counterclaim.
If you believe you didn’t unnecessarily use anyone else’s copyrighted material, you can go through the counter-notification process to help restore your removed video. You’ll receive an email titled “Copyright Takedown Notice.” If you knowingly took someone else’s video and uploaded it directly to your YouTube channel, you shouldn’t go through the counter-notification process unless you’re willing to risk losing your entire account and getting sued.
When submitting the counter-notification, you need to provide your necessary details, including personal information such as your email address, physical address, phone number, and full name. (Also, make sure you didn’t receive any fraudulent copyright strikes or claims)
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You can also explain exactly what happened with the usage. I suggest giving them reasons why you think they’re wrong to put a copyright strike on you(Be Polite). If you obtained a license or permission to use the copyrighted material, make sure you include the necessary information as well.
Include the specific URL of the exact video.
Once you submit your counter-notification, you will get a “Counter Notification Pending” status.
Go to the support information on YouTube and check copyright notices in your account. You can provide your personal information, the URL, and you must agree to the terms and then provide your physical or electronic signature.
Hiding your Personal Information – YouTube Copyright Strike Counter Notification
byu/icecoldrookie inPartneredYoutube
This is all you need to do to submit the counter-notification. YouTube will then forward the information and your counter-notification to the party that sent the takedown notification. If they see and approve your content without moving forward to sue you, your original video will be restored within 10-14 business days from the day the email was forwarded.
Either way, you have to wait for their action to be taken, or you can directly contact the party that removed your video and ask them to retract their takedown. (That might not work in most cases.)
If you’re willing to wait, YouTube is willing to give creators another chance after the first copyright strike. Whether you complete YouTube’s copyright school or not, the strike will expire after 90 days, and your privileges will be reinstated.
Steps to Move Forward if You Receive a Copyright Claim
@TeamYouTube people are abusing the copyright system and being bold about stealing. This user has claimed copyright on BGM from a @NintendoAmerica game. I disputed the claim but always try to reach out to the claimant.
— Kay 🪴🏡🎵🎮 (@StylishSoprano) August 8, 2024
If your uploaded video on your channel received a copyright claim, you can follow these different courses of action:
1. Dispute the Claim: If you’re sure you’re in the right.
2. Mute or Replace the Copyrighted Material: Muting or replacing the copyrighted material will remove the copyright claim and allow you to monetize the video again.
3. Do Nothing: You can allow the copyright holder to collect any ad revenue.
If you choose to formally dispute the claim, the rights holder has thirty days to respond. If you can provide evidence that you have the proper permission to use the material, such as a music license, the rights holder will likely release the claim. They may also choose not to respond to the dispute and simply let the claim expire.
Avoiding Copyright Infringement on Your YouTube Channel
I know I don’t have to stress more about always uploading original content. But that doesn’t mean you have to put extra effort into making every single part of your video original; you can also make use of copyrighted music, images, or video clips in your videos as long as you purchase the proper license and usage rights.
Some tips to take care of while making sure you avoid any copyright claims or strikes in videos:
- To avoid copyright infringement, only upload original content or content you have permission to use.
- Only make use of royalty-free music, images, and video clips in your videos.
- Try to obtain and safeguard proper licenses for copyrighted material, such as music or video clips.
- Familiarize yourself with YouTube’s Fair Use policy.
- The Content ID system scans all videos uploaded to identify potential copyright violations. Make sure your content complies with copyright laws to avoid issues.
Here are some more tips for managing Copyright Claims and Strikes on YouTube
- You can monitor your YouTube account regularly for copyright claims and strikes.
- Try to respond promptly to copyright claims and strikes to avoid further action.
- Please make sure to keep records of your licenses and permissions for copyrighted material.
- Make use of YouTube’s Content ID system to identify potential copyright issues.
Final Thoughts
As a responsible YouTuber, you should always make sure you regularly review and update your uploaded content to ensure compliance with copyright law. Copyright claims and copyright strikes are both different ways for rightful owners to warn you that you’ve used their content without permission. A copyright claim is just a notice that indicates copyrighted material is included in the video, while a strike is a penalty for having abused copyrights.
In conclusion, I suggest you use YouTube’s copyright tools and resources to identify potential issues. You can also engage with your audience and respond to comments and concerns regarding copyright infringement. Additionally, you can obtain music licenses from free sites that offer royalty-free music and upload original content to avoid any copyright issues. Make sure to stay up-to-date with changes to YouTube’s copyright policy and terms of service. I hope this article helped you learn how to submit a counter-notification if you’ve ever come across a copyright strike in your life.
FAQs
1. Is it possible to remove copyright strike?
Yes, a copyright removal request can be withdrawn by the party who filed it. If the copyright owner decides to retract their request, the copyright strike associated with that request will be removed from your channel. However, it’s important to note that this only applies if no other third-party content contributed to the strike. If other copyrighted material from a different rights holder is also involved, the strike may still remain even if the original request is withdrawn.
2. Do copyright strikes ever go away?
Yes, copyright strikes do expire. When you receive a copyright strike on YouTube, you’ll be required to watch a brief video about copyright regulations and answer a few questions to ensure you understand the rules. The strike itself will remain on your channel for 90 days, after which it will expire and be removed, provided you don’t receive any additional strikes during that period.
