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:

The counter notification process takes 10 business days to complete once initiated, so please be patient. During this time, the claimant may file an action seeking a court order to keep the content down.

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.