Counter Notification Basics

A counter notification is a legal request for YouTube to reinstate a video that has been removed for alleged copyright infringement. The process may only be pursued in instances where the upload was removed or disabled as a result of a mistake or misidentification of the material to be removed or disabled, such as fair use. It should not be pursued under any other circumstances.

If your video was removed but does not fit the criteria above, you may want to seek a retraction, or simply wait for your strike to expire.

By submitting a counter notification, you consent to having your information revealed in this way. We will not forward the counter notification to any party other than the original claimant.

Counter notifications must be submitted by the video’s original uploader or an agent authorized to act on their behalf, such as an attorney. To submit a counter notification, please use our webform. It is accessible via the Copyright Notices section of your account:

After we process your counter notification by forwarding it to the claimant, the claimant has 10 business days to provide us with evidence that they have initiated a court action to keep the content down. This time period is a requirement of copyright law, so please be patient.

If your account has been suspended for multiple copyright violations, the counter notification webform will be inaccessible. If appropriate, you may submit a free-form counter notification.