Getting a YouTube copyright strike can feel like a punch in the gut, especially when you’ve spent hours editing and promoting your video. But that’s not the end of anything.
As a creator, you’ve the option to appeal against the copyright strike and even remove it if you handle it in the right way. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about how to appeal a YouTube copyright strike, along with tips to strengthen your copyright strike appeal.
In this article, we’ll cover…
- Copyright Strike vs Copyright Claim: What’s the Real Difference?
- What Really Happens When You Get a YouTube Copyright Strike
- How to Appeal a YouTube Copyright Strike: 2 Easy Methods
- How to Make Your YouTube Copyright Appeal Stronger (And Win Faster)
- What If You Can’t Get a Copyright Strike Removed? Here’s What to Do
- Top Tips to Avoid YouTube Copyright Strikes
- YouTube Copyright Strikes: FAQs
Copyright Strike VS Copyright Claim: What’s The Difference?
A copyright strike is a formal DMCA takedown request, accusing you of serious infringement. Your video gets immediately removed, and your channel gets hit with a strike that threatens the entire account. Get three strikes within 90 days, and YouTube terminates your channel permanently.
On the other hand, a copyright claim is a flag from YouTube’s automated system (called Content ID) that your video uses copyrighted music, footage, or images without permission. The copyright owner can choose to block it in certain regions, mute the audio, track it, or monetize it with their own ads. You don’t get paid, but your channel stays safe. Check out more details on the difference between copyright claim and copyright strike here.
Already got a copyright claim and want to resolve it? We’ve written a detailed blog on how to appeal copyright claims and avoid them in the future.
What Happens When You Get a Copyright Strike
A YouTube copyright strike is more serious than it sounds. Ignoring it actually makes things worse and puts your channel at a more risky position. Check out what really happens when you get a copyright strike:
- YouTube immediately takes down the video that triggered the strike. It disappears from your channel, and viewers can’t access it anymore. It won’t be counted in the watch time calculation for YouTube monetization.
- You may lose access to main features like live streams, monetization, community posts, etc., depending on the intensity of the violation.
- You’ve to spend time to finish a quick Copyright School video and quiz.
- Even if the strike doesn’t delete your channel, it can hurt your credibility. YouTube’s algorithm notices copyright issues, which can limit your reach and reduce recommendations for your videos.
- Each copyright strike stays active for 90 days. During this time, YouTube watches your account closely. Three strikes during this timeframe could lead to permanent termination of all channels associated with your mail (yes, it affects your other channels as well).
For more details, visit our blog on the consequences of a YouTube copyright strike.
The best thing you can do is act fast. Check the details of the strike in YouTube Studio, find out who filed it, and start working on an appeal or retraction request.
And that’s exactly what we’re going to explain in the coming sections!
How To Appeal A YouTube Copyright Strike: 2 Methods
Check out the two main ways to appeal a YouTube copyright strike:
1. Retraction Request
A copyright strike begins because someone believes you used their content without permission. The simplest way to remove the strike is to get that same person to cancel it. This process is called a Retraction Request.
Why Retraction Request Is The Best Copyright Appeal Option?
- The fastest way to resolve a YouTube copyright strike. Once the copyright owner retracts, YouTube removes the strike right away.
- Avoids legal disputes that may become costly.
- Maintain a professional and respectful relationship with the claimant, which would be helpful in preventing future strikes.
How To Submit A Retraction Request
Here’s how to find the details of the copyright owner and request a retraction:
- Go to YouTube Studio → Dashboard → Active Copyright Strikes
- Select the strike and click ‘Select Action’ and choose retraction
- Look for the claimant’s contact information (email or website may be listed)
- Send a request to the owner (s) to retract the strike
Your message should not be defensive. Just explain what happened in one sentence and ask for a retraction politely.
And make sure your retraction request email contains all the required details, like your channel name, URL, and title of the affected video, the strike reference ID (if available), and even guide them on how to file retractions, since most users don’t know about the process. There are two main ways to remove a copyright strike:
- The claimant can log into their YouTube Studio, go to the Copyright section, click on the Removal requests tab, find the video, and click Retract removal.
- The claimant can send a retraction email to copyright@youtube.com with the proper format, including a statement like “I hereby retract my claim of copyright infringement”. You can view the specific format here.
Best Strategies For Retraction Request
When you ask someone to withdraw a copyright strike, you must present a strong reason that feels satisfactory to the owner. Have a look at some such reasons:
- Compliance: Show them you’ve taken action. Tell the copyright owner exactly what you fixed, whether you removed the copyrighted clip, muted the music, or deleted the video entirely. When they see the problem is already solved, they feel safe retracting the strike.
- Exposure: Make it beneficial for them. If you’ve a massive reach for the video, you can offer to add their website, social media link, or credits to your video description if the owner agrees to file a retraction. Many companies love extra visibility.
- Legal Clarity: Sometimes misunderstandings happen because the owner may not be aware that you have permission. If you have a license, attach it. When they see you’re legally allowed to use the content, retracting the strike becomes the obvious next step.
2. Submit a Counter Notification
A Counter Notification is the last line of defense. It’s a formal legal assertion under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) that your video was removed due to a mistake or misidentification.
It’s a bit more serious and detailed than a retraction request, but it’s completely valid if you know your rights.
When to File a Counter Notification
A counter notification is the best option when:
1. Your Content Falls Under Fair Use
If you believe that you’ve used the copyrighted material legally, you can file a counter-notification confidently. If the video transforms the original content without harming its market value, it qualifies as a fair use. Usually, review, commentaries, educational, news, and parodies falls under its purview.
2. You Have Full Rights or Written Permission
You can file a counter-notification if you:
- Own the license
- Created the content yourself
- Have written permission from the original creator
For instance, if you’ve downloaded royalty-free YouTube music for your video, but YouTube removed your video because someone falsely claimed it. In this case, attaching proof of your license makes your counter notice valid.
3. Copyright Owner Is Unresponsive
If you’ve already requested a retraction and the claimant doesn’t reply, or they refuse to withdraw the strike even though you’re right, a counter-notification is the only move you could make.
Well, the biggest risk behind a counter-notification is that by submitting it, you legally consent to the jurisdiction of the federal court in your district. You are giving the claimant your personal information (name, address, phone number). The claimant can choose to ignore your counter-notice, or, in the worst case, file a court order against you. That may come with a hefty fine, too!
Steps To File A Counter-Notification
Once you’ve reviewed all the details and are confident that your content was removed unfairly, follow these simple steps:
1. Access The Form
Log in to your YouTube account and open YouTube Studio. Click content, filter by Copyright, and select the video with the copyright strike. Then, choose ‘File Counter Notification’.
2. Give Full Contact Information
You need to fill out your full legal name, physical address, phone number, and email. This information is given to the claimant.
3. Statement of Good Faith
You must confirm with a statement that you believe the removal was due to a mistake or misidentification. Here’s a sample statement of good faith:
“I have a good faith belief that the material was removed due to a mistake or misidentification, and I consent to the jurisdiction of the Federal District Court for my district.”
4. Give an Explanation
You also have an option to give a clear explanation of why you believe your video was wrongly taken down. Keep it factual and polite.
5. Submit With A Signature
Type in your full legal name at the end to give an electronic signature. Soon, you will get a mail confirmation from the official YouTube team.
What Happens After You Submit the Counter Notification
Here’s what to expect next:
- YouTube forwards your counter notification to the copyright claimant. The claimant then has 10 business days to either withdraw the claim or file a lawsuit.
- If they withdraw the claim, your strike disappears immediately.
- If they decide to take legal action, YouTube will not reinstate your video until the issue is resolved in court.
- If the claimant doesn’t respond within 10 days, YouTube will reinstate your video and remove the copyright strike from your account automatically.
Jarmain Patrick, a YouTube content creation expert, has stated simply how to file a counter notification and what happens after it in very simple words in this video:
How to Make Your YouTube Copyright Appeal Stronger
The time between receiving the strike and submitting your appeal is very important. Here’s what you can do then to make your YouTube copyright strike appeal stronger:
1. Collect The Proof
If your defense relies on a license (Express License/Permission), you must immediately collect and digitize your evidence. It could be in the form of:
- Proof of Purchase: Receipts, license agreements, or screenshots from the music/stock provider. Check out how to buy music for your YouTube videos safely.
- Written Permission: Screenshots or printouts of email correspondence where the copyright holder explicitly granted you usage rights.
2. Record and Document Your Creative Process
If your content is transformative, make sure that you show the proof of human effort. You can save a record that shows how your video was made through:
- Raw project files from your YouTube video editing software (Premiere Pro, Final Cut, CapCut, etc.)
- Audio stems, draft edits, or screen recordings showing your editing process
- Metadata or timestamps proving the footage was shot by you
3. Verify the Source
Sometimes copyright strikes don’t come from the actual copyright owner. Many bots and scammers are also around the field. Before you appeal, check:
- The email account of the claimant is official, like the company.com, rather than a suspicious Gmail domain
- The name in the copyright notice is an official representative of the company.
If it looks sketchy, mention in your appeal that the strike may be fraudulent. That triggers YouTube to review it manually and more carefully, which may solve all problems.
4. Clean Up Related Content Before Appealing
Before sending your appeal, review your channel for other videos with similar content. If there are more that could trigger strikes, temporarily make them private.
That’s a way to create an impression that you’re not a habitual violator and prevents back-to-back strikes that could disable your appeal process.
What If I Can’t Get The Copyright Strike Removed?
If your retraction request doesn’t work, here’s what happens next and what you should do:
1. Restriction Continues
Most probably, YouTube copyright strikes cause severe restrictions, like:
- Limit or remove some features, like live streaming
- Restrict monetization
- Affect your YouTube Partner Program (YPP) eligibility
These restrictions will continue for 90 days.
2. Complete Copyright School
Copyright school refers to a quick online course where you’ll watch a short educational video and answer 4 simple quiz questions about how copyright works on YouTube. You need to pass the quiz to clear the copyright strike after the 90-day countdown. Have a look at this live demo to prepare well for the test:
3. Don’t Upload Risky Content
During those 90 days, be extra careful. Avoid using copyrighted music, movie clips, TV segments, or anything you are not sure about, because more strikes could be dangerous.
Upon the second strike, the feature restrictions could be more severe. And if you receive a third strike within this 90-day period, your channel gets permanently terminated. All your videos are deleted, and YouTube won’t let you create a new channel.
But that’s not the end of the path. A recovery option still exists. You can appeal the termination (YouTube does review appeals in some cases). Or else, you always have the option to start fresh with a new channel using another email. Check out why you shouldn’t create a second channel with the same mail.
Tips To Avoid Copyright Strikes
Prevention is always better than a cure. Here are some simple things you can do to protect your channel from serious trouble:
Don’t Use Popular Clips
Copyright owners like major film studios, sports leagues (UEFA, NBA), and brands have special teams dedicated to hunting down unauthorized use of their high-value content. Even a 10-second clip to make a point can lead to a strike. So, the golden rule is to avoid high-profile content that someone actively protects.
Create Original Content
The safest strategy is to use footage, music, graphics, and ideas that you made yourself. If it’s 100% yours, no one can strike you.
Store Real Licenses
If you need external resources, make sure that you’ve permission from the creator. If you’re using a song, stock footage, or images, buy a license from legitimate platforms like Envato Elements. Giving credit to the original creator in the description is NOT an alternative to licensing.
Don’t Always Rely on Fair Use
Fair use sounds like the best solution, but it isn’t. It’s very complicated and mostly misunderstood. Just because you believe your commentary qualifies as fair use doesn’t mean the copyright owner will agree. They can still file a strike, and you’ll have to fight it later with a counter-notification.
It works only if you’ve proper knowledge and transform content heavily with commentary, criticism, or education. Check out this video to know more:
Be Careful With Live Streams
Strikes can happen mid-stream if copyrighted material appears, like songs playing in the background. One slip-up can end the entire stream and give you a strike. Always control your environment before going live.
Document Your Creation and Ownership
Keep records (timestamps, drafts, recordings, scripts) proving you created something, especially if it’s similar to existing work. If someone falsely strikes your original content, you’ll have evidence for your counter-notification.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ❓
1. What is a copyright strike?
A copyright strike is a formal legal action taken when a copyright owner asks YouTube to remove your video because it uses their content without permission. When you receive a strike, your video is taken down, and your channel faces restrictions.
2. How long does it take for a copyright strike to be removed from YouTube?
It depends on how you appeal. If the copyright owner retracts the claim, YouTube usually removes the strike within 24–48 hours. If you file a counter notification, the process can take 10–14 business days.
3. Will deleting my video remove the copyright strike?
No. The strike is tied to your account, not the video. You must either get the claimant to retract it or submit a valid counter-notification to have it removed.
4. Can I appeal a copyright strike more than once?
You can pursue both a retraction request AND a counter-notification. However, once you’ve filed a counter-notification, there are no further appeals through YouTube’s systems. The process moves to the legal domain if the claimant disputes it.
Conclusion
The shock of a YouTube copyright strike is real. But it doesn’t have to be the end of your channel. All you need to do is be extra careful in playing by the rules.
And the best thing you can do for it is to build a system for your creative work. Keep proof of ownership, track every asset you use, and save the work file of all your videos so that you can screen record, if needed. When your appeal is backed by clear evidence, you’ll have a clear-cut upperhand in the process. Stay protected! 🔒
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