YouTube Copyright Strike: Claim vs Strike, Expiry and Fixes
A YouTube copyright strike is a penalty on your channel that happens when a copyright owner sends YouTube a valid legal request to remove one of your videos. YouTube takes the video down and adds the strike, even if it is your first one. It is not the same as a copyright claim, which usually only affects one video and leaves your channel alone.
Copyright claim vs copyright strike vs Community Guidelines strike
These three are often mixed up, but YouTube treats them as separate systems. YouTube's Strikes FAQ says copyright claims do not result in a strike, and that copyright strikes and Community Guidelines strikes run on different tracks.
| Content ID claim | Copyright strike | Community Guidelines strike | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What causes it | Content ID matches part of your video to a rights holder's file | A copyright owner sends a valid removal request | Your content breaks YouTube's Community Guidelines |
| Video removed? | No, but it can be blocked, monetized by the owner or tracked | Yes | Yes |
| Penalty on the channel? | Usually no | Yes, one strike | Usually a warning first, then strikes |
| Expiry | No strike to expire | 90 days, after Copyright School | 90 days |
| Three in 90 days | Not applicable | Channel subject to termination | Channel may be removed |
| How to fight it | Dispute the claim | Counter notification or retraction | Appeal |
Sources: YouTube Help pages Copyright strike basics, Learn about Content ID claims, Community Guidelines strike basics and Strikes FAQ.
What happens when you get a copyright strike?
According to YouTube's Copyright strike basics page, the strike works like this:
- The video is removed. A video can only have one copyright strike at a time.
- If the strike hits a live stream, your live streaming access is restricted for 7 days. A second strike extends that to 14 days.
- Your channel can be suspended from monetization. YouTube's page Monetization is disabled for my channel lists copyright strikes among the reasons.
- Deleting the video does not remove the strike.
The 3-strikes rule
YouTube Help says channels that get 3 copyright strikes in 90 days are subject to termination. When that happens, your account and any associated channels are affected, your content becomes inaccessible and you cannot create new channels. You can still sign in to YouTube Studio to see the reinstatement options. Strikes on linked channels count against each other: if a linked channel has 3 active strikes, your channel is subject to termination too.
How long does a copyright strike last?
A copyright strike expires 90 days after it is applied, but only if you complete Copyright School and have fewer than three strikes. YouTube describes Copyright School as four questions, and you only need to complete it once. If you skip it, the strike stays active.
How to remove a copyright strike: 3 official ways
- Wait it out. Complete Copyright School and the strike expires after 90 days, as long as you have no new strikes.
- Ask for a retraction. Contact the person or company that filed the removal request and ask them to withdraw it. If they retract it, the strike is removed.
- Submit a counter notification. Do this only if you believe the video was removed by mistake or your use is covered by an exception such as fair use.
There is also a fourth case worth checking. If the removal request was scheduled rather than immediate, YouTube Help says you have 7 days to delete the video yourself and avoid the strike. The strike email from no-reply@youtube.com tells you whether this applies to you.
How a counter notification works
A counter notification is a legal request, so YouTube's page Submit a copyright counter notification sets strict rules. It must come from the original uploader or an authorized representative, such as a lawyer.
- Your full legal name (first and last name, not a company name), physical address and phone number.
- Direct links to the removed content.
- A short statement in your own words about why the removal was a mistake or misidentification.
- The consent to jurisdiction statement and the sworn statement under penalty of perjury.
- Your full legal name as your signature.
You can file it in YouTube Studio: open Content, filter by Copyright, find the video marked Removed and choose Submit a counter notification. YouTube shares your counter notification, including your personal details, with the claimant. The claimant then has 10 US business days to show they have taken legal action. If they do not, your video is reinstated and the strike may be cleared.
Do copyright claims affect monetization?
A claim does not add a strike, but it can take money away from that one video. YouTube's page Learn about Content ID claims says the rights holder's settings decide what happens: the video can be blocked, monetized with ads (sometimes with revenue shared with you) or only tracked. Monetize is the most common setting for music claims. You can often remove a claim by trimming the claimed part, muting the song or swapping it for an Audio Library track.
Disputes need care. YouTube Help warns that if you dispute a claim without a valid reason, the owner can send a removal request, and a valid removal request means a copyright strike.
How to avoid copyright strikes on YouTube
- Only upload music, clips and footage you made, licensed or got written permission to use.
- Use the YouTube Audio Library for music. YouTube says its copyright-safe tracks will not be claimed through Content ID.
- Credit Creative Commons tracks in the description exactly as the license asks.
- Do not rely on disclaimers like no copyright intended. YouTube's Common copyright myths page says they do not give you any rights.
- Check the Copyright filter in YouTube Studio's Content tab after each upload, and fix claims before a dispute turns into a strike.
- Keep a folder with your licenses and permissions so you can prove your rights quickly.
Starting a new project on a clean channel
A strike is not a reason to buy a channel. If you have active strikes, the honest fix is to resolve them through the steps above. Buying a channel does not remove strikes from your existing one, and a terminated creator is not allowed to own other channels. But if you are in good standing and want a fresh, clean start for a new topic or brand, a channel that is already in the YouTube Partner Program saves you the wait for monetization.
Is a copyright claim the same as a copyright strike?
No. A Content ID claim affects one video and usually does not affect your channel. A copyright strike comes from a valid legal removal request, takes the video down and counts toward the 3-strike limit.
How many copyright strikes before YouTube deletes your channel?
Three. YouTube Help says channels that get 3 copyright strikes in 90 days are subject to termination.
Do copyright strikes go away?
Yes, after 90 days, but only if you complete Copyright School and have fewer than three strikes.
Does deleting the video remove a copyright strike?
No. YouTube Help says deleting a video does not resolve a copyright strike. The one exception is a scheduled removal request, where you have 7 days to delete the video before the strike is applied.
Can I still make money with a copyright strike?
Possibly not. YouTube lists copyright strikes as a reason monetization can be suspended on a channel. Resolving the strike is the safest route back.
How long does a counter notification take?
After YouTube forwards it, the claimant has 10 US business days to show they have started legal action. If they do not, YouTube reinstates the video.
Does a Community Guidelines strike count toward copyright strikes?
No. They are separate systems. Each has its own three-strike limit within 90 days.