A copyright strike means your content was removed after a legal copyright removal request
A copyright strike means YouTube removed your content because of a legal copyright removal request. YouTube says it reviews these requests and, if a request appears to be valid, it has to remove the content to comply with copyright law. A copyright strike is separate from a Community Guideline strike and from a copyright claim. A Content ID claim typically does not lead to a strike, but if you dispute a claim without a valid reason, the copyright owner can submit a removal request; if that request appears valid, the content is removed and your channel gets a strike.
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Copyright strikes are different from Community Guideline strikes and copyright claims.
If you get a copyright strike, it means your content was removed due to a legal copyright removal request.
These requests are reviewed and, if they appear to be valid, we have to remove the content to comply with copyright law.
If you get a Content ID claim on your video, it typically doesn't result in a copyright strike.
If the copyright removal request appears [valid](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/13823830#review), your content would be removed from YouTube and your channel would get a copyright strike.
Qualifications & exceptions
Removal follows only requests that appear to be valid after review.
"Typically" means a Content ID claim usually, not always, avoids a strike.
Not stated here
The page does not describe who reviews removal requests or the standard used to decide a request appears valid.
The linked pages on copyright claims, claim disputes and removal requests are not supplied, so their terms are not part of this analysis.
Account & Service Control · Company commitment
YouTube emails you about a strike, why it happened and how to resolve it
When your channel gets a copyright strike, YouTube says it will email you, explain why, and explain how to resolve the strike. YouTube states that official notifications come from no-reply@youtube.com.
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When your channel gets a copyright strike, we’ll email you and explain why.
We'll also explain how to resolve the copyright strike.
Official notifications come from no-reply@youtube.com.
Not stated here
The page does not say how quickly the email is sent.
Content & IP Rights · Company practice
At one or two strikes, YouTube removes the struck content
The page lists what happens to your channel by strike count. With 1 copyright strike, YouTube removes the content from YouTube. With 2 copyright strikes, the same steps apply: the content is removed, and each strike follows the same Copyright School rule for expiring or staying active.
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Here’s what happens to your channel:
1 copyright strike:
We remove the content from YouTube.
2 copyright strikes:
Same steps as above.
Qualifications & exceptions
Expiry depends on Copyright School; see the card on strikes staying active.
Account & Service Control · User right or choice
A strike stays active unless you complete Copyright School; then it expires 90 days after it was applied
A copyright strike does not simply wear off. If you complete Copyright School, the strike expires 90 days from the day it was applied to your channel; otherwise it remains active on your channel. The opening summary adds a condition: strikes expire this way when your channel has fewer than 3 copyright strikes. The FAQ says you only have to complete Copyright School once.
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Copyright strikes expire in 90 days if you complete [Copyright School](https://www.youtube.com/copyright_school) and your channel has fewer than 3 copyright strikes.
to have the strike expire in 90 days, otherwise it will remain active on your channel.
If Copyright School was completed, the strike will expire in 90 days, otherwise it will remain active on your channel.
Complete Copyright School and wait 90 days: Copyright strikes expire after 90 days if [Copyright School](https://www.youtube.com/copyright_school) is completed.
After completing, your strike will clear 90 days from the day it was applied to your channel.
You only have to complete Copyright School once.
Qualifications & exceptions
The 90 days run from the day the strike was applied to your channel, not from the day you complete Copyright School.
Expiry through Copyright School applies when the channel has fewer than 3 copyright strikes.
Without Copyright School, the strike remains active.
Not stated here
The page does not say what happens if Copyright School is completed more than 90 days after a strike was applied.
The page does not say whether completing Copyright School once covers strikes received later.
Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception
Three strikes make your account and associated channels subject to termination
With 3 copyright strikes, your account, along with any associated channels, is subject to termination. "Subject to termination" means termination can happen; the page does not say it is automatic. The opening summary describes this as 3 strikes in 90 days, while the strike list and FAQ describe 3 strikes or 3 active strikes; because strikes can stay active without Copyright School, these descriptions are not identical. The same 3-strike list says you can't create new YouTube channels. A channel linked to one with 3 active strikes is also subject to termination.
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Channels that get 3 copyright strikes in 90 days are subject to termination.
3 copyright strikes:
Your account, along with any associated channels, is subject to termination.
You can’t create new YouTube channels.
If a channel linked to yours has 3 active copyright strikes, your channel is also subject to termination.
Qualifications & exceptions
Termination is possible ("subject to termination"), not stated as automatic.
The summary counts 3 strikes in 90 days; the FAQ counts 3 active strikes.
Linked channels share the termination risk.
Not stated here
The page does not say whether the bar on creating new channels starts at the third strike or only after termination, or how long it lasts.
The page does not define "associated" or "linked" channels.
Cross-references
contrast (model-proposed): Three active strikes on one channel put linked channels at risk of termination too — contrast: The opening summary ties termination to 3 strikes received in 90 days, while the FAQ ties it to 3 active strikes. Because a strike stays active unless Copyright School is completed, 3 active strikes can build up over more than 90 days. The page states both without reconciling them.
Account & Service Control · Company practice
If your channel is terminated, its uploads become inaccessible; reinstatement options are in YouTube Studio
If your channel is terminated, content uploaded to it becomes inaccessible. You can still log into YouTube Studio to see the options you have to reinstate your channel.
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If your channel is terminated, content uploaded to your channel will be inaccessible.
You will be able to log into [YouTube Studio](https://studio.youtube.com) to see the options you have to reinstate your channel.
Not stated here
The reinstatement options themselves are not described on this page.
Content & IP Rights · Context
Content can be removed for other reasons, and a video carries at most one copyright strike
The page notes that content can be removed from YouTube for reasons other than copyright, so a removal is not always a copyright strike. A video can only have 1 copyright strike at a time.
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Content can be removed from the site for reasons other than copyright.
Videos can only have 1 copyright strike at a time.
Not stated here
The other removal reasons are not listed on this page.
Legal Rights & Agreement Rules · User right or choice
You can resolve a strike by a retraction or a valid counter notification, besides Copyright School
The page lists 3 ways to resolve a copyright strike. Besides completing Copyright School and waiting 90 days, you can contact the person who submitted the copyright removal request and ask them to retract it. If you think your content was removed by mistake, or that it qualifies as a copyright exception such as fair use, you can submit a counter notification. The summary says the counter notification must be valid ("enough valid counter notification").
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You can also resolve them by getting a retraction or submitting enough valid counter notification.
There are 3 ways to resolve a copyright strike:
Get a retraction: You can get in touch with the person who submitted the copyright removal request and ask them to retract the copyright removal request.
Submit a valid counter notification: If you think your content was removed by mistake, or qualifies as a copyright exception, like fair use, you can submit a counter notification.
Qualifications & exceptions
A retraction depends on the requester agreeing to retract.
Only a valid counter notification resolves the strike.
Not stated here
The counter notification process, its requirements and its consequences are on linked pages not supplied here.
The page does not explain what "enough valid counter notification" means.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Deleting a video avoids a strike only when the removal request was scheduled, within 7 days
If the copyright removal request was scheduled, you have 7 days to delete your content and avoid the copyright strike. The copyright strike email from no-reply@youtube.com shows whether you have this option. In all other cases, deleting a video does not resolve a copyright strike.
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If the copyright removal request was scheduled, it means you have 7 days to delete your content and avoid the copyright strike.
To see if you have this option, check the copyright strike email sent from no-reply@youtube.com.
In all other cases, deleting a video doesn’t resolve a copyright strike.
Qualifications & exceptions
Applies only to scheduled removal requests.
Whether you have this option is shown in the copyright strike email.
Not stated here
The page does not say when the 7 days start.
Account & Service Control · Procedure
YouTube Studio shows active strikes, their impact and the claimant; the email is the fallback
You can see your active copyright strikes on the YouTube Studio Dashboard, or find a removed video through the Content page's Copyright filter and open its details. The overview shows the strike's impact on your video and channel, its current status and the content used. The details show the claimant's name and where the claimant's content appears in your video, including an infringing audio track if the strike was issued against one. If you can't access your channel, the removal email from no-reply@youtube.com has the strike information.
Supporting quotations
look under Active copyright strikes for info about copyright strikes.
On the overview page, you can see the impact of the copyright strike on your video and channel, the current status and content used.
Click See details to see the claimant’s name and where in your video the claimant's content appears.
If the strike was issued against a specific audio track, you will see this information under Infringing audio track.
If you don’t have access to your channel, you can find info about your copyright strike in the email YouTube sent (from no-reply@youtube.com) to notify you that your content was removed.
Account & Service Control · Procedure
Copyright School is a 4-question course you must complete once to clear active strikes
Copyright School consists of 4 questions about how copyright works on YouTube. To clear active copyright strikes on your channel you need to complete it; after you do, a strike clears 90 days from the day it was applied to your channel. You only have to complete Copyright School once. The opening summary limits this route to channels with fewer than 3 copyright strikes.
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What is Copyright School?
Copyright School consists of 4 questions about how copyright works on YouTube.
Do I need to complete Copyright School to clear a copyright strike?
Yes, to clear active copyright strikes on your channel, you’ll need to complete Copyright School.
After completing, your strike will clear 90 days from the day it was applied to your channel.
You only have to complete Copyright School once.
Copyright strikes expire in 90 days if you complete [Copyright School](https://www.youtube.com/copyright_school) and your channel has fewer than 3 copyright strikes.
Qualifications & exceptions
Clearing runs 90 days from the day the strike was applied, not from completion.
Applies when the channel has fewer than 3 copyright strikes.
Not stated here
The Copyright School course itself is on a linked page that is not supplied.
The page does not say whether one completion also covers strikes received after it.
Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception
A live stream removed for copyright brings a strike and a 7-day live streaming restriction
If your active live stream is removed for copyright, your channel gets a copyright strike and your live streaming access is restricted for 7 days. If your channel gets another copyright strike, the live stream restriction lasts 14 days.
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Can live streams get copyright strikes?
Yes, if your active live stream is removed for copyright, your channel will get a copyright strike and your live streaming access will be restricted for 7 days.
If your channel gets another copyright strike, the live stream restriction will last 14 days.
Qualifications & exceptions
Applies to an active live stream removed for copyright.
A further strike extends the restriction to 14 days.
Not stated here
The page does not say whether "another copyright strike" must also come from a live stream.
The page does not say when the restriction period starts.
Cross-references
qualifies (model-proposed): At one or two strikes, YouTube removes the struck content — qualifies: For a live stream removed for copyright, the strike also restricts live streaming for 7 days (14 days after another strike), beyond the content removal listed by strike count.
Content & IP Rights · Company practice
A Content ID claim typically brings no strike, but an unfounded dispute can lead to one
Copyright claims are different from copyright strikes, and a Content ID claim on your video typically does not result in a strike. However, if you dispute a copyright claim without a valid reason, the copyright owner has the option to submit a copyright removal request for your content. If that request appears valid, your content is removed from YouTube and your channel gets a copyright strike.
Supporting quotations
I got a claim on my video, does that mean I’ll get a copyright strike?
If you get a Content ID claim on your video, it typically doesn't result in a copyright strike.
However, if you [dispute a copyright claim](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2797454) without a valid reason, the copyright owner has the option to [submit a copyright removal request](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2807622) for your content.
If the copyright removal request appears [valid](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/13823830#review), your content would be removed from YouTube and your channel would get a copyright strike.
Qualifications & exceptions
"Typically" means a claim usually, not always, avoids a strike.
The copyright owner may, not must, submit a removal request after an unfounded dispute.
A strike follows only if the removal request appears valid.
Not stated here
The page does not define a "valid reason" for a dispute; the linked dispute and review pages are not supplied.
Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception
Three active strikes on one channel put linked channels at risk of termination too
If a channel linked to yours has 3 active copyright strikes, your channel is also subject to termination. The rule works both ways: if your channel has 3 active copyright strikes, other channels linked to yours are subject to termination. "Subject to termination" means termination can happen; the page does not say it is automatic.
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What happens if a channel that's linked to mine gets a copyright strike?
If a channel linked to yours has 3 active copyright strikes, your channel is also subject to termination.
Similarly, if your channel has 3 active copyright strikes, other channels linked to yours are subject to termination.
Qualifications & exceptions
Counts active strikes; strikes stay active unless cleared.
Termination is possible, not stated as automatic.
Not stated here
The page does not define when channels count as linked.