Learn the difference between a copyright claim and a copyright strike on YouTube. This guide explains Content ID claims, strikes, delayed claims, and how to resolve or remove them – so you can protect your videos and channel from serious copyright issues.
Understanding the difference between a copyright claim and a copyright strike on YouTube can be confusing for many creators. In this blog post, we’ll break down the key differences between the two, when and why you might receive them, and the options you have to resolve them.
A Content ID claim (also known as a “copyright claim”) occurs when a third party’s content is automatically detected in your video. YouTube has developed a video and audio-matching system called Content ID, which is used to identify and manage rights holders' content on YouTube.
During the upload process, YouTube automatically scans your video against its Content ID database. A match will trigger an automated Content ID claim, which may restrict monetization or regional visibility. However, keep in mind that a Content ID claim is simply an ownership notice – it does not result in a copyright strike or harm your YouTube channel.
A copyright removal request (also often referred to as a “copyright strike”) is a legal request from a third party to remove your video because it contains their copyright-protected content. If your video has been removed due to a copyright removal request, you will receive a copyright strike on your YouTube channel. A copyright strike is a serious penalty; YouTube may shut down your channel if you receive three strikes.
In contrast to a Content ID claim, which applies only to a specific video, a copyright strike applies to your entire YouTube channel. As a result, deleting a video that was taken down due to a removal request does not remove or clear the strike from your channel.
You might receive Content ID claims days or even years after uploading – even if YouTube’s initial scan showed no copyright issues.
Content ID claims placed a few days after uploading usually happen because many rights holders utilize a route for review policy.
At Free To Use, every video flagged by YouTube undergoes a manual review where we check for the correct attribution in your description. Since this process requires manual action from our side, Content ID claims from us usually appear a few days after your video was initially set to public or unlisted.
The Content ID database is updated daily as new music and media are registered. Therefore, YouTube periodically performs legacy scans on older videos to check for matches against this new content. If an older video is found to contain newly registered content, it will receive a Content ID claim retroactively.
There are two main ways to remove a Content ID claim from your video:
Reach out to the claimant directly
Dispute the claim via YouTube Studio
Note: If you’ve received a Content ID claim from us at Free To Use, please add the required attribution to your video description and send an email to copyright@freetouse.com. In the email, include a link to your YouTube video(s) and an explanation of your situation. Once received, we will remove the Content ID claim from your video. This is usually done within 24 hours, but during periods of high demand, it may take up to 7 days. Please do not dispute the Content ID claim, as this will only prolong the process.
Unlike a claim, a copyright strike can severely impact your channel’s standing. As explained earlier, YouTube may permanently terminate your channel if you receive three strikes, so it is crucial to resolve them as soon as possible.
There are three ways to clear a strike from your channel:
Contact the Claimant: Reach out to the rights holder to request a retraction (YouTube provides you with the claimant’s email address upon receiving a strike).
Submit a Counter-Notification: Submit a legal request for YouTube to reinstate the content if you believe it was removed in error.
Wait it out: Complete YouTube’s Copyright School and wait 90 days for the strike to expire.
If you have received a strike from us at Free To Use, it is likely because you’ve used our music without the necessary license. You can find more details in our FAQ.