Jan 31, 2025
How to Submit an Effective YouTube DMCA Takedown & Enforce Your Copyright
Imagine waking up one morning to find that someone has posted an unauthorized copy of your YouTube video. You feel violated. After all, you worked hard to create that content and build your following on YouTube. YouTube DMCA takedown procedures let you remove unauthorized copies of your content from the platform, helping you protect your copyrighted videos from further abuse. This article will walk you through the YouTube DMCA takedown process to help you eliminate unauthorized videos quickly and efficiently.
One way to speed up the removal process is with Bustle's copycat detection tool. This solution helps you find copies of your videos on YouTube and other online platforms to eliminate them with a DMCA takedown google request.
Table of Contents
What is a DMCA Takedown on YouTube?
A DMCA takedown on YouTube is a formal request you make to have your copyrighted content removed from someone else's channel. It’s like saying, “Hey, that's mine!” and asking YouTube to step in and take it down. This process is grounded in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, a law that helps protect your creative works online.
When you file a DMCA takedown notice, you're invoking this law. YouTube takes these notices seriously to ensure copyright laws are respected on their platform. When you submit a takedown notice, YouTube reviews it to ensure it meets legal standards, then removes the content if your claim is valid.
Preparing to File a DMCA Takedown on YouTube
Before you file a DMCA takedown on YouTube, gather all the necessary information and documentation to ensure your claim is rock-solid.Here's what you'll need: Your contact information:
Name
Address
Phone number
Email
A clear and specific description of the copyrighted work you claim has been infringed. The exact URL or location of the potentially infringing material on YouTube. A statement that you believe the copyright owner does not authorize the use of the content.
A statement that you are authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed. Your electronic or physical signature. Only file valid claims. Filing a takedown notice for content that isn't copyrighted or you don't own the rights to can lead to serious legal consequences.
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How To File A YouTube DMCA Takedown Notice
Get YouTube to Remove a Video Fast
YouTube makes it easy to identify and remove copyright violations. If you've uploaded videos yourself, the site uses a technology called Content ID to scan the site for duplicate videos. If a match comes up, you'll be notified in the copyright section of your YouTube Studio Dashboard and can take action from there.
Even if you've never uploaded your content directly to YouTube, you can still file a takedown notice using their DMCA web form. The content doesn't need to be in video format to file a complaint, as you can choose from various media. As long as it's yours and someone else has posted it without your permission, you can fill out the form in just a few simple steps.
How To Submit A Copyright Claim On YouTube (Step-By-Step)
1. Head To The YouTube Studio Dashboard
Sign in to your YouTube account. (As long as you have a Google account, you will also automatically have a YouTube account.) Click on your profile picture in the top right-hand corner of the page, then select “YouTube Studio” to be taken to your channel dashboard.
2. Find Channel Copyright
On the left-hand side, click “Copyright.” If you have previously uploaded videos and there is a Content ID match, they will appear on this page. If you’ve never uploaded YouTube videos, but someone has stolen your work from elsewhere, click “New Removal Request” in the top right to bring up the complaint form.
3. Request Videos For Removal
Here, you will fill in information about your original content. Select the type of content—you can choose between video, original song, software, artwork, live performance, copyrighted logo, or other. Fill out all the boxes of information it asks for, including links to where you originally posted the work. You will also need to provide a link to the content to be removed to make sure you have that to hand.
4. Content Owner Information
Here, you will fill out all your contact information, including your:
Full name
Address
Relationship to the content
Email
Phone number
YouTube does not share this information unless this issue escalates to court. You cannot file the complaint until you complete all the required information.
5. Removal Options
You can give the person seven days to remove their video or file the claim immediately. If you give them the seven-day notice, they can avoid a copyright strike if they take the video down within that timeframe. If you file now, YouTube will remove the video once the request is accepted, and the channel will get a copyright strike. Usually, it’s best just to select “Standard: Removal Request Now.” They took the chance of stealing your content, so why give them a notice period? Check off the box at the bottom so that YouTube can prevent any more uploads of your content from appearing on the site.
6. Legal Agreements & Signature
Check off all the boxes in this section to state that you understand the legal agreements and that the information you have provided is correct and truthful. Fill out your full legal name as it appears on your official identification documents.
7. Submit Your Request
Click the “Submit” button at the top right-hand of the page to send your removal request. If your complaint is validated, the channel will receive a copyright strike. YouTube will terminate any channel that gets three copyright strikes within 90 days. Remember that the person your complaint is against could decide to submit a counter notice, in which case you may have to take legal action.
After Submitting a DMCA Takedown Notice
After submitting your DMCA takedown notice, YouTube will review your claim to ensure it meets all legal requirements. Here's what can happen next:
Content Removal
If YouTube finds your claim valid, they remove the infringing content. The uploader will be notified and can respond with a counter-notification if they believe the content was wrongly removed.
Counter-Notification
YouTube will inform you if the uploader disputes your claim with a counter-notification. You then have 14 business days to respond. If you don't, the content may be restored.
No Action
If your claim lacks sufficient information or isn't valid, YouTube may decide not to take any action. In this case, you might need to provide additional details or reassess the validity of your claim. In any outcome, you must monitor the situation and be prepared to take further legal steps if the dispute escalates beyond YouTube's internal processes.
Dealing With Counter-Notifications on YouTube
A counter-notification is a response from the uploader. If you receive one, it means the uploader believes the content was removed mistakenly or they have a valid defense, like fair use. When this happens, review their claim carefully. If you still believe your rights are infringed, you may need to seek legal advice or consider court action to resolve the dispute.
Tips for Protecting Your YouTube Content
Protecting your YouTube content is crucial to maintaining digital rights and ensuring your creative efforts are respected. Here are some strategies to help safeguard your work:
Watermark Your Videos: Adding a visible or invisible watermark can deter theft and make it easier to claim ownership.
Use YouTube's Content ID: This powerful tool helps you manage your content on the platform. Depending on your preferences, Content ID can automatically block, monetize, or track the video if someone uploads your copyrighted content.
Clearly State Your Copyright Policy: In your video descriptions or channel information, clearly outline how others can or cannot use my content.
Keep Records: Maintain copies of your original content and any correspondence related to copyright claims.
Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with copyright laws and YouTube's policies to ensure you're using all available protections. Proactively manage your content with tools like Content ID (an automated content identification system on YouTube) to significantly reduce unauthorized use and control your creative output.
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Find and Take Down Copycats with One-click Today
No one wants to discover that a competitor has used their hard-earned web content. Not only is it frustrating, but it can also hurt your SEO rankings and negatively impact sales. Bustem is a robust copycat detection and removal tool explicitly designed for e-commerce merchants. Our platform automatically scans billions of websites to identify unauthorized use of your store's content, including:
Images
Videos
Headlines
Text
Once we spot copycats, we streamline the entire takedown process with pre-filled DMCA forms and comprehensive case management. Built by people who know the game inside out, our service is to protect your brand assets and offers:
24/7 monitoring
Instant detection
Bulk takedown capabilities
Efficient Content Protection: How Bustem Helps You Identify and Eliminate Copycats
With over 2M DMCA notices filed daily and businesses losing $29B annually to content theft, we’ve made protection simple and cost-effective. Bustem helps you identify and eliminate copycats efficiently, whether dealing with competitors using:
Your product images
Copying your ad content
Stealing your copy
Get a free scan to see who’s been stealing your content. With Bustem, you can find and take down copycats with one click today.
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