Receiving a copyright strike on your YouTube channel can lead to serious consequences — including loss of monetization, channel restrictions, or even termination.
What Leads to a Copyright Strike?
Content ID Claim: Your video receives an automated claim.
You challenge it assuming:
You fully own the content, or
It’s public domain, or
It clearly qualifies as fair use.
The claimant upholds the claim. YouTube then notifies you to either accept the claim or remove the content within 7 days.
If you do neither, you receive a copyright strike.
How to Avoid Strikes
To prevent a valid strike against your channel, take action immediately: accept the claim or remove the disputed content unless one of the following applies:
You have a valid license or clearance to use that content.
You are the rightful owner of all content in the video.
The use clearly qualifies as fair use.
The work is in the public domain.
The claim is a mistake, and the content hasn’t actually been used in your video.
Failing to act under these circumstances can result in your channel being unlinked from your partner network — and multiple valid strikes within 90 days may lead to further penalties.
⏳ If You Already Have a Strike
If you believe the strike was issued in error:
Complete YouTube’s Copyright School — this is mandatory before you can challenge the strike.
File a Counter-Notification:
You can submit this via your YouTube Video Manager or by email.
Once accepted, YouTube sends your counter-notice to the claimant.
If the claimant doesn't pursue legal action within 10 business days, the video is reinstated and the strike is removed.
Be sure to monitor your email carefully; some parties may require the counter-notice to be submitted via our team to be considered valid.
Summary Table
Scenario | What to Do |
Claim Received | Accept it or remove the content immediately |
You Have Legal Rights | Submit a Counter-Notification after completing Copyright School |
Time Constraint | Counter-Notifications must be submitted within 20 days to qualify |
Repeated Strikes | Multiple strikes can lead to removal from partner network and more severe consequences |
Support from Kingsmen Studio
If you're unsure how to address a specific claim, or if a strike seems invalid, please contact us promptly. We can assist with next steps, including framing a strong Counter-Notification or guidance on compliance.