If you have submitted a copyright removal request in error, you can retract it. Retracting a copyright removal request will:
- Clear the copyright strike from the uploader's channel, unless other content is contributing to the strike.
- Restore the uploader's content to YouTube, unless the uploader has deleted the content.
If you're an uploader whose content was removed, you may be able to request a retraction.
If you submitted the removal request
There are two ways to retract a copyright removal request:
- Retract it in YouTube Studio
- Retract it by email
If your removal request has already been resolved and resulted in the removal of content, you can retract it in YouTube Studio:
- Sign in to YouTube Studio on a computer.
- From the left menu, select Copyright
.
- In the Removal requests tab, find the video that you submitted the removal request for.
- Click 'Expand'
to show more details about the video.
- If the video has already been removed, click RETRACT REMOVAL. If the video is pending removal due to a scheduled removal request, click RETRACT REQUEST.
- In the pop-up window, click RETRACT.
.
to show more details about the video.You can retract a removal request by email as long as the email meets these requirements:
- The email must be sent from the original claimant or an authorised representative (such as a lawyer) on the claimant's behalf.
- The email must be sent from the same email address or corporate domain that was used to submit the original removal request.
- The email must include the following information:
- Formatted links to the content from your removal request: For videos, the valid URL format is
youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxxxxxxxx. For non-video content, use the URL format for the appropriate content type listed here. - Statement of retraction: For example, 'I hereby retract my claim of copyright infringement'. Bear in mind that we can only accept a retraction of the removal request. We can't accept a retraction of only the copyright strike such as 'I retract my copyright strike'.
- Electronic signature: At the bottom of the email, the claimant or authorised representative must enter their full legal name as their signature. A full legal name cannot be a company name.
- Formatted links to the content from your removal request: For videos, the valid URL format is
- The email must be sent to [email protected].
If your content was removed
If you're an uploader whose content was removed due to a copyright removal request, you can get in touch with the claimant directly and ask for a retraction. Some creators list ways that they can be contacted in their channel.
Bear in mind that, by law, YouTube cannot mediate copyright ownership disputes.