YouTube Strikes: Copyright vs Community Guidelines

Community Guidelines: warning first, then strikes

The Community Guidelines apply to everything on YouTube, including unlisted and private videos, comments, links, posts and thumbnails (Community Guidelines strike basics on YouTube).

• Warning. The first violation is typically only a warning. You can take an optional policy training; the warning then expires 90 days after you complete the training. If you break the same policy within that 90-day window, the warning may not expire and you may get a strike.
• First strike. For 1 week you can’t upload videos or live streams, schedule videos, create Premieres, create custom thumbnails or posts, or edit playlists. Scheduled public content is set to private. The strike stays on the channel for 90 days.
• Second strike in the same 90-day period: you can’t post content for 2 weeks.
• Third strike in the same 90 days: the channel may be permanently removed.

Each strike expires 90 days from when it was issued. YouTube also notes that a single case of severe abuse can lead to termination without a warning, and that deleting the video doesn’t remove a strike.

Copyright strikes: what happens

A copyright strike means your content was removed because of a legal copyright removal request that appeared valid (Understand copyright strikes). There’s no warning stage: YouTube says it has to act to comply with copyright law.

• 1 or 2 strikes: the content is removed. Complete Copyright School (4 questions, done once) and each strike expires 90 days after it was applied; otherwise it stays active.
• 3 strikes in 90 days: the account and any associated channels are subject to termination, and you can’t create new channels.
• Live streams: a live stream removed for copyright gives a strike and restricts live streaming for 7 days; another strike makes it 14 days.
• Linked channels: if a channel linked to yours has 3 active copyright strikes, your channel is also subject to termination.
• A video can only have 1 copyright strike at a time.

Official notices come by email from no-reply@youtube.com. Be wary of any other email, DM or “agency” claiming they can lift a strike for a fee.

Counter notifications: know the risks

A counter notification is a legal request (Submit a copyright counter notification). Before you file one, YouTube Help points out:

• You must give your full legal name, physical address and phone number, and YouTube is legally required to share the counter notification with the claimant. An authorised representative, such as an attorney, can file for you.
• You can file for videos in YouTube Studio: Content > filter Copyright > See details > Take action > Submit a counter notification.
• The claimant then has 10 US business days to show evidence of legal action. If they don’t, the content is reinstated (unless you deleted it).
• Submitting false information can lead to account termination or legal consequences.

If you’re unsure whether your use counts as fair use, get legal advice before you file.

How to avoid strikes in the first place

• Read the policy for your niche (for example harmful content, spam or harassment) before you publish borderline topics.
• Check thumbnails, titles, links and comments too, not just the video.
• Use music you have a licence for, or tracks from the YouTube Audio Library.
• Keep licences and permissions on file so you can prove them quickly.
• Give anyone with Studio access clear rules, because their uploads count against your channel. See our guide on handing over account access safely.
• Check the Studio dashboard regularly for warnings and active strikes.

If you’re working towards monetisation, strikes matter there too: read our YouTube Partner Program requirements guide and how Shorts monetization works.