A YouTube copyright strike is a penalty placed on a channel when YouTube removes one of its videos in response to a valid copyright removal request.
When a copyright owner, or an agent authorised to act for them, submits a valid legal removal request and YouTube takes the video down, the uploading channel receives a copyright strike. A channel that receives three copyright strikes within 90 days is subject to termination, which removes the channel and its videos.
A strike expires 90 days after it is applied, provided the uploader has completed YouTube's Copyright School. It can be resolved earlier if the claimant retracts the request, or contested with a counter notification if the uploader believes the removal was a mistake or the use is covered by an exception such as fair use. A copyright strike is separate from a Content ID claim, which does not on its own result in a strike, and from a Community Guidelines strike.
In practice
Only the copyright owner or their authorised agent can trigger a copyright strike, so it is the right route when a channel has reuploaded your own footage — not when a video simply shows or discusses you, which needs a privacy, harassment or defamation route. If the uploader files a counter notification, the video can return unless the claimant starts court action within the legal window. Repeated strikes are also what can bring down a channel that keeps reposting your content.
Source: YouTube Help — Understand copyright strikes ↗
Related removals
- YouTube video — $3,700 per video, pay on success
- YouTube channel — Custom quote, pay on success
- DMCA takedown — Quoted by scope, pay on success
Related terms
- DMCA takedown — A DMCA takedown is a notice under US copyright law asking a host, platform or search engine to remove material that infringes a copyright you own or are authorised to enforce.
- Counter-notice — A counter-notice is the uploader's formal response to a DMCA takedown, asking the provider to restore material they believe was removed by mistake or misidentification.
- Repeat infringer policy — A repeat infringer policy is a service provider's rule for terminating the accounts of users who repeatedly infringe copyright, required to keep DMCA safe-harbour protection.
- Community guidelines — Community guidelines are a platform's own rules about what users may post, and breaking them is the most common ground on which platforms remove content.