- How a claim differs from a copyright strike and a Community Guidelines strike
- How to find the matched section and the claimant in YouTube Studio
- Editing the match out, and when a dispute is appropriate
The short answer
When YouTube shows "copyright", it is often a Content ID claim, which is not a strike. YouTube Help says that receiving a claim alone does not give your channel a strike. Before deleting anything, check in YouTube Studio what type of notice it is, which part of the video it covers, who made the claim and what it does to the video, then choose a response.
Three different notices
Content ID is a system that automatically compares uploaded videos with content registered by rights holders. When it finds a match, a claim is placed on the video, and depending on the rights holder's settings the video is blocked, monetised with ads, or tracked for viewing statistics. These settings can differ by country or region.
A copyright strike is issued when a rights holder's takedown request is accepted and the video is removed. Three strikes within 90 days lead to the channel being terminated. A Community Guidelines strike is a separate system again: it concerns breaking YouTube's own rules, not copyright.
Deleting the video does not necessarily make the problem go away. For copyright strikes, YouTube Help says that, except for takedown requests that come with a deadline, deleting the video does not remove the strike. Community Guidelines strikes also stay on the channel after the video is deleted.
A "copyright" notice can be three different things
- Automatic match with registered content
- Block, monetise or track
- Can differ by country or region
- Follows a valid takedown and removal
- Three in 90 days ends the channel
- About YouTube's rules, not copyright
- Stays on the channel even if the video is deleted
Check in YouTube Studio
According to YouTube Help, open YouTube Studio, go to Content in the left menu and use the filter to show claims. Shorts are listed on their own tab. Hover over the entry in the Restrictions column and open the details to see the content that was used and the claimant. If the entry indicates a copyright takedown, the video is subject to a takedown request, not just a claim. Labels in the English interface may differ slightly from these descriptions; the help page describes the same Studio steps for computers, Android and iPhone/iPad.
| What to check | Where and what |
|---|---|
| Type of notice | A claim, or a takedown/strike |
| Matched audio or video and time range | The "content used" part of the claim details |
| Effect on the video | Blocked, monetised or tracked, and in which regions |
| Proof of permission | Contracts, licence terms, permission emails |
| Available responses and cautions | Do nothing, edit it out, or dispute; dispute only if you hold the rights |
For example, if only 30 seconds of your background music matched, you can trim that segment, mute the song, or replace it with a track from the YouTube Audio Library. YouTube Help says that, done correctly, this releases the claim automatically.
Dispute only when you have the rights
A dispute is appropriate when you hold all the rights needed, when the use falls under an exception such as fair use, or when you believe the match is a mistake. Crediting the owner, owning a copy of the song, or turning off monetisation are not valid reasons.
Note that fair use is mainly a concept of US law. Japan's Copyright Act has no general provision of the same kind; uses are judged under specific provisions such as quotation (Article 32).
After a dispute, the claimant can release the claim but can also submit a takedown request, which leads to a strike. Repeated or abusive disputes may be penalised, and a dispute cannot be withdrawn once submitted. If you are unsure, YouTube Help suggests consulting a legal professional.
If it is still unresolved
If a licensed track was claimed, reread your contract or the music service's terms and contact the licensor first. For the latest explanation of the systems and screens, check the relevant YouTube Help pages.
Checklist
- Confirmed whether it is a claim or a takedown/strike
- Checked the matched time range and the content used
- Checked whether it blocks or monetises, and in which regions
- Gathered proof of permission
- Did not dispute without a basis in rights
One thing to check today
Open Content in YouTube Studio, look at the Restrictions column, and check the type of notice and the matched section.