Requirements for copyright counter notifications

If you're submitting a copyright counter notification by email, fax, or postal mail, it must include all the required information listed below. If any of the information listed below is missing, we can't process the counter notification.

If disclosing personal information is a concern, an authorized representative (such as an attorney) can submit the counter notification on the uploader's behalf.

Getting Started

Before you begin, please keep in mind the following:

  • Emailed counter notifications must include the information below in the body of the email (not as a separate attachment) sent to [email protected].
  • Counter notifications should be submitted by the original uploader of the content at issue.
  • The original uploader must consent to sharing the information in the counter notification with the claimant.
Do not submit false information. Misuse of our processes, such as submitting fraudulent documentation, may result in the termination of your account or other legal consequences.

Provide required info

Send all the required info below in the body of an email (not as an attachment) to [email protected]. You can also send it by fax or postal mail.

Your contact information

To get in touch with you, or the representative authorized to act on your behalf, about your counter notification, the following contact information is required:

  • Full legal name: First and last name, not a company name. If you're an authorized representative, please also include your relationship to the uploader.
  • Physical/Mailing address
  • Telephone number

Formatted links to the content

Counter notifications must include links to the content that was removed due to a copyright removal request. Links must be sent in a specific format (see below). General information such as channel name or channel URL is not acceptable.

  • Valid URL format for videos: youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxxxxxxxx
  • Valid URL format for non-video content: Listed in the Valid URL format section below.
    • Note: Because channel profile pictures are hosted by Google, counter notifications for channel profile pictures must be submitted through Google's webform.

      Valid URL formats

      Only include URLs for content removed due to the copyright removal request you're objecting to. Submit separate counter notifications for URLs on different channels.
      Content type Valid URL format Where to find the URL
      Channel banner images

      youtube.com/channel/UCxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

      OR

      youtube.com/user/xxxxxxxxx

      Go to the channel page and thenright-click the address bar and then Copy.

      Channel descriptions youtube.com/user/xxxxxxxxx/about

      Go to channel's About section and then right-click the address bar and then Copy.

      Clips youtube.com/clip/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Click the clip's title and then right-click the address bar and then Copy.
      Video Comments youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxxxxxxx&lc=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Click the posted date above the comment (page will reload) and then right-click the address bar and then Copy.
      Post Comments youtube.com/channel/xxxxxxxxxxx/community?lc=xxxxxxxxxxxx&lb=xxxxxxxxxxxx Click the posted date above the comment (page will reload) and then right-click the address bar and then Copy.
      Community posts https://youtube.com/post/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Click the posted date of the community post (page will reload) and then right-click the address bar and then Copy.
      Effects

      youtube.com/effect/xxxxxxxxxx

      Keep in mind:
      • Videos that have already used the Effect are not impacted by the removal of the Effect.
      • You can find videos using the Effect by visiting the Effect URL. For videos, the easiest way to request the removal of a video you believe infringes on your copyright is by using our webform.
      Click the Effect chip, located above the channel name in the Short and then right-click the address bar and then Copy.
      Membership badges, emoji, or creator's perk descriptions Beginning with yt3.ggpht.com/xxxxx Right-click the image and then Copy Image Address.

      Also include the channel URL:

      youtube.com/channel/UCxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

      OR

      youtube.com/user/xxxxxxxxx

      Go to the channel page and thenright-click the address bar and then Copy.
      Playables youtube.com/playables/xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Go to the game page and then right-click the address bar and then Copy.
      Playlist descriptions

      youtube.com/playlist?list=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

      Click the playlist title and then right-click the address bar and then Copy.

      Playlist Image Beginning with https://i.ytimg.com/xxxxxxxxxx Right-click the image and then Copy Image Address.

      Also include the playlist URL:

      https://youtube.com/playlist?list=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

      Click the playlist title and then right-click the address bar and then Copy.
      Profile pictures
      Super Stickers Beginning with lh3.googleusercontent.com/xxxxx Click the dollar sign  in a live chat and then Super Sticker and then right-click image and then Copy Image Address.

      Also include the channel URL:

      youtube.com/channel/UCxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

      OR

      youtube.com/user/xxxxxxxxx

      Go to the channel page and then right-click the address bar and then Copy.

Legal statements

Agree to and include the following required legal statements:

  • "I consent to the jurisdiction of the Federal District Court for the district in which my address is located, or if my address is outside of the United States, the judicial district in which YouTube is located, and will accept service of process from the claimant."
  • "I swear, under penalty of perjury, that I have a good faith belief that the material was removed or disabled as a result of a mistake or misidentification of the material to be removed or disabled."

Statement to the claimant

In your own words, you must include a statement to the claimant that clearly and concisely explains why you believe the removal of the content at issue was a mistake or misidentification. Misidentification includes cases of exceptions to copyright, such as fair use or fair dealing.

Your signature

Complete and valid counter notifications require the physical or electronic signature of the uploader or representative authorized to act on their behalf.

To meet this requirement, the uploader or authorized representative can enter their full legal name as their signature at the bottom of the counter notification. A full legal name should be a first and last name, not a company name.

More info

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