Getting a copyright claim on any of your YouTube content is both scary and frustrating. If this has happened to you, you may be wondering what you’re supposed to do. And if it hasn’t happened to you yet, then you should know how to avoid it at all costs.
We’re here to ease your mind. In this article, you’ll learn how to safely avoid or get rid of copyright claims on YouTube, as well as why and what happens when your content gets hit with one.
Why Does YouTube Content Get Hit With a Copyright Claim?
YouTube content, such as a Short or a long-form video, may receive a copyright claim against it if it uses copyrighted material without the original author’s permission.
A copyright, according to the U.S. Copyright Office, is “a type of intellectual property that protects original works of authorship as soon as an author fixes the work in a tangible form of expression.”
In other words, any original work that is “fixed” in a tangible form – such as music, an image, or a video – is subject to copyright law.
If your YouTube content uses any musical tracks, audio, pictures, or video footage that you took from someone else without the author’s permission, then that video may be in violation of copyright law.
If the author finds out that you used their work without their permission, they can fill out a copyright claim. As long as their claim meets all the requirements of the law, YouTube is legally obligated to remove the video that the claim was made against.
How To Avoid Copyright Claims on YouTube
Obviously, avoiding copyright claims on YouTube is extremely important! Not only do you not want any of your videos to get taken down, but you also don’t want your channel to get terminated.
The best way to avoid copyright claims on YouTube is to simply not use any original works from anyone else – unless you’re operating under fair use.
Fair use is a legal doctrine that allows YouTube creators to include small parts or clips of copyrighted works in their videos for the following purposes: criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use can be tricky, which is why it’s not uncommon for you to receive a copyright claim for it. In such a scenario, you can dispute the copyright claim by filing a counter notification.
What Happens To Your YouTube Content If You Get a Copyright Claim?
When you get a copyright claim, the specific video that it was made against gets taken down immediately. There’s no time to argue and no warning that it’s about to happen.
You can, however, view information about the copyright claim, including why you received it. You can also dispute the claim, which we’ll explain how to do in just a moment.
What Happens To Your Channel If You Get a Copyright Claim?
After you get your first copyright claim, it’s not the end of the world for your channel. You will have a copyright strike against you, and you will be required to go through Copyright School. This course will help you learn about copyright and how YouTube enforces it.
It’s possible that your channel may get demonetized. Furthermore, if you get three copyright strikes – as in, your content violated copyright on three separate occasions – your YouTube account, all associated channels, and all your content will be deleted.
This happens immediately unless you’re a member of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). In that case, you have a 7-day courtesy period in which you can try to resolve your strikes.
How To Dispute a Copyright Claim on YouTube
In the event that you’ve been hit with a copyright claim that you feel is unfair, is based on false information, or targets your right to fair use, follow these steps to file a counter-notification.
Step #1: Sign into your account on YouTube Studio.
Step #2: Click Content on the left-hand menu.
Step #3: Under the Videos tab, click Filter and select Copyright Claims.
Step #4: Find the video you want to dispute and hover your mouse over Copyright claim under the Restrictions column.
Step #5: Select SEE DETAILS.
Step #6: Click Actions underneath Content identified in this video.
Step #7: Click Submit counter-notification.
Step #8: Check each box of the counter-notification requirements to confirm you understand them and click CONTINUE.
Step #9: Fill out your contact information and click CONTINUE.
Step #10: Explain why you feel the copyright claim is wrong or misdirected.
Step #11: Review the statements and check the boxes next to them to indicate that you agree.
Step #12: Type in your full legal name to “sign” the counter notification and click CONTINUE.
Step #13: Click SUBMIT.
Once YouTube receives your counter-notification, they will take some time to review it. If they determine that you’re in the right, they will reinstate your content on the platform and the copyright strike will be removed from your account.
What Else Can You Do About a Copyright Claim on YouTube?
What if the copyright claim wasn’t a mistake on the part of the filer? In that case, you only have two other options to get the copyright strike off your account.
- Wait 90 days for the copyright strike to automatically disappear.
- Contact the person who filed the copyright claim and ask them to request a retraction of their claim.
Keep in mind that requesting a retraction may not lead anywhere, especially if you did, in fact, violate copyright law with your video.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Avoid a Copyright Claim on YouTube?
The best way to avoid a copyright claim on YouTube is to only use content that you created (or paid someone else to create) in your videos.
What Happens If I Get a Copyright Claim on YouTube?
Your video will get removed and you’ll get a copyright strike against your account. The strike will disappear in 90 days unless you file a counter notification or get a retraction from the claim filer.
Will I Get Banned for Copyright Claims From YouTube?
If you accumulate three copyright strikes on your account, then your account, your channels, and your content will be removed from the platform.
Conclusion
Having a copyright claim made against you is never a pleasant experience. The good news is that by following the steps we laid out in this article, you can avoid as well as potentially get rid of any copyright claims that come your way.
