{"id":14092,"date":"2023-07-06T12:09:18","date_gmt":"2023-07-06T18:09:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viralyft.com\/blog\/?p=14092"},"modified":"2026-05-25T01:58:49","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T07:58:49","slug":"how-to-avoid-copyright-claims-on-youtube","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/viralyft.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-copyright-claims-on-youtube","title":{"rendered":"How to Avoid Copyright Claims on YouTube (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u2019re supposed to do. And if it hasn\u2019t happened to you yet, then you should know how to avoid it at all costs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019re here to ease your mind. In this article, you\u2019ll 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Does YouTube Content<\/span> Get Hit With a Copyright Claim?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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\u2019s permission.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A copyright, according to the <\/span>U.S. Copyright Office<\/span><\/a>, is \u201ca type of intellectual property that protects original works of authorship as soon as an author fixes the work in a tangible form of expression.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, any original work that is \u201cfixed\u201d in a tangible form \u2013 such as music, an image, or a video \u2013 is subject to copyright law.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If your YouTube content uses any musical tracks, audio, pictures, or video footage that you took from someone else without the author\u2019s permission, then that video may be in violation of copyright law.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

How To Avoid Copyright Claims<\/span> on YouTube<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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\u2019t want your channel to get terminated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The best way to avoid copyright claims on YouTube is to simply not use any original works from anyone else \u2013 unless you\u2019re operating under fair use.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fair use<\/span><\/a> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fair use can be tricky, which is why it\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Happens To Your YouTube Content<\/span> If You Get a Copyright Claim?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When you get a copyright claim, the specific video that it was made against gets taken down immediately. There\u2019s no time to argue and no warning that it\u2019s about to happen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can, however, view information about the copyright claim, including why you received it. You can also dispute the claim, which we\u2019ll explain how to do in just a moment.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Happens To Your Channel<\/span> If You Get a Copyright Claim?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

After you get your first copyright claim, it\u2019s not the end of the world for your channel. You will have a <\/span>copyright strike<\/span><\/a> 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s possible that your channel may get demonetized. Furthermore, if you get three copyright strikes<\/a> \u2013 as in, your content violated copyright on three separate occasions \u2013 your YouTube account, all associated channels, and all your content will be deleted.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This happens immediately unless you\u2019re 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

How To Dispute a Copyright Claim<\/span> on YouTube<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In the event that you\u2019ve 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 <\/span>file a counter-notification<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Step #1: <\/b>Sign into your account on YouTube Studio.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Click<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Step #2: <\/b>Click <\/span>Content <\/b>on the left-hand menu.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Content\"<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Step #3: <\/b>Under the Videos tab, click <\/span>Filter <\/b>and select <\/span>Copyright Claims<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Click<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Step #4: <\/b>Find the video you want to dispute and hover your mouse over <\/span>Copyright claim<\/b> under the Restrictions column.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Mouse<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Step #5: <\/b>Select <\/span>SEE DETAILS<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Details\"<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Step #6: <\/b>Click <\/span>Actions <\/b>underneath <\/span>Content identified in this video<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Actions\"<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Step #7: <\/b>Click <\/span>Submit counter-notification<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Click<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Step #8: <\/b>Check each box of the counter-notification requirements to confirm you understand them and click <\/span>CONTINUE<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Continue\"<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Step #9: <\/b>Fill out your contact information and click <\/span>CONTINUE<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Click<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Step #10: <\/b>Explain why you feel the copyright claim is wrong or misdirected.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Step #11: <\/b>Review the statements and check the boxes next to them to indicate that you agree.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Step #12: <\/b>Type in your full legal name to \u201csign\u201d the counter notification and click <\/span>CONTINUE<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Counter<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Step #13: <\/b>Click <\/span>SUBMIT<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Click<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

Once YouTube receives your counter-notification, they will take some time to review it. If they determine that you\u2019re in the right, they will reinstate your content on the platform and the copyright strike will be removed from your account.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Else Can You Do<\/span> About a Copyright Claim on YouTube?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

What if the copyright claim wasn\u2019t 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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