If your copyrighted content is on YouTube without your permission, you can submit a copyright removal request, which is a legal process. For videos, you can submit in YouTube Studio or by email, fax, or mail. For non-video content, such as channel banner images, submit by email, fax, or mail.
What to know before you submit:
- Copyright exceptions: Consider whether fair use, public domain, or a similar copyright exception applies. You may be asked to confirm you’ve made this consideration. Without a sufficient response, the copyright removal request may be invalid and won't take effect.
- Scheduled removal requests: You can schedule a copyright removal request to take effect in 7 days. Doing this gives the uploader 7 days to take action and avoid a copyright strike.
- Prevent copies: When you submit via YouTube Studio, you can select an option to prevent future copies of the same content from being uploaded again.
- What info is shared: Legally, we’re required to share certain information with the uploader. If disclosing personal information is a concern, an authorized representative (such as an attorney) can submit on your behalf.
- Who can submit: Copyright owners should submit copyright removal requests. Alternatively, an authorized representative, such as an attorney, can submit on behalf of a copyright owner.
Submit in YouTube Studio
Copyright removal requests for videos can be submitted directly in YouTube Studio:
Submit a copyright removal request
To get to this form in YouTube Studio:
- On a computer or mobile browser, sign in to YouTube Studio.
- From the left menu, select Content detection
.
- Click New removal request.
Submit by email, fax, or mail
Copyright removal requests for video as well as non-video content, such as channel banner images, can be submitted by email, fax, or mail.
Send all the required information below (expand each section for details) in the body of an email (not as an attachment) to copyright@youtube.com or send it by fax or mail:
1. Your contact infoYouTube and the uploader of the content you’re asking to remove may need to get in touch with you about your request. In your request, include one or more of the following:
- Your email address
- Your physical address
- Your telephone number
Clearly and completely describe the copyrighted content you’re trying to protect.
If you believe more than one of your copyrighted works have been infringed, you may alternatively supply a representative list of these works in your request.
| Content type | Valid URL format | Where to find the URL |
|---|---|---|
| Channel banner images |
www.youtube.com/channel/UCxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx OR www.youtube.com/user/xxxxxxxxx |
Go to the channel page |
| Channel descriptions | www.youtube.com/user/xxxxxxxxx/about | Go to channel's About section |
| Clips | www.youtube.com/clip/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx | Click the clip's title |
| Comments on videos | www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxxxxxxx&lc=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx | Click the posted date above the comment (page will reload) |
| Comments on posts | www.youtube.com/channel/xxxxxxxxxxx/community?lc=xxxxxxxxxxxx&lb=xxxxxxxxxxxx | Click the posted date above the comment (page will reload) |
|
Effects (Shorts) |
www.youtube.com/effect/xxxxxxxxxx Keep in mind: Videos that have already used the Effect aren’t affected by the removal of the Effect.
|
Click the Effect chip (above the channel name in the Short) |
| Membership badges, emoji, or creator's perk descriptions | Beginning with yt3.ggpht.com/xxxxx | Right-click the image |
|
Also include the channel URL: www.youtube.com/channel/UCxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx OR www.youtube.com/user/xxxxxxxxx |
Go to the channel page |
|
| Playables | www.youtube.com/playables/xxxxxxxxxxxxxx | Go to the game page |
| Playlist descriptions | www.youtube.com/playlist?list=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx | Click the playlist title |
| Playlist image | Beginning with https://i.ytimg.com/xxxxxxxxxx | Right-click the image |
|
Also include the playlist URL: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
Click the playlist title |
|
| Posts | https://www.youtube.com/post/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx | Click the posted date of the post (page will reload) |
| Profile pictures | https://yt3.googleusercontent.com/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx | Click the profile picture |
|
For expedited removal of profile pictures, copyright removal requests for profile pictures may be submitted through Google’s form. |
||
| Shorts | https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx | Go to the Short |
| Super Stickers | Beginning with lh3.googleusercontent.com/xxxxx | Click the dollar sign  in a live chat |
|
Also include the channel URL: www.youtube.com/channel/UCxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx OR www.youtube.com/user/xxxxxxxxx |
Go to the channel page |
|
| Videos | www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxxxxxxxx | Go to the video page |
Agree to and include the following 2 legally required statements:
“I have a good faith belief that the use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.”
"The information in this notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, I am the owner, or an agent authorized to act on behalf of the owner, of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.”
Complete and valid copyright removal requests require the physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or a representative authorized to act on their behalf.
To meet this requirement, the copyright owner or authorized representative should enter their full legal name as their signature at the bottom of the copyright removal request. A full legal name should be a first and last name, not a company name.
Contact information
- Email address: copyright@youtube.com
- Fax number: +1 650 872 8513
- Mailing address:
Copyright Operations
YouTube (Google LLC)
901 Cherry Ave.
San Bruno, CA 94066
USA
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What happens after a copyright removal request is submitted?After a copyright removal request is submitted, we review it to make sure it has the information required by copyright law and appears valid. If the request passes the review, we remove the content to comply with copyright law.
If the copyright removal request is missing information or if more details are needed, we reach out to the claimant (the person who submitted the removal request). For example, claimants may be asked to:
- Provide a more specific title of the copyrighted content
- Submit evidence of authorization to act on behalf of the copyright owner, if applicable
- Confirm whether copyright exceptions, such as fair use or fair dealing, have been considered
Until we have all the required information, the content in question may stay up on YouTube during this process.
Learn more about the copyright removal request process.- On a computer or mobile browser, sign in to YouTube Studio.
- From the left menu, select Content detection
- Select Removal requests.
- Name of the copyright owner: If a video is removed for alleged copyright infringement, the claimant’s name will be shown on YouTube instead of the video.
- If you submit a valid legal alternative, like the name of a company or authorized representative, we'll review it. If our review decides that the alternative name is appropriate, we’ll show it.
- The purported copyright owner’s name will be part of the public record of your request.
- Full legal name: This may be shared with the uploader of the video removed for alleged copyright infringement.
- Primary email address: This may be shared with the uploader of the video removed for alleged copyright infringement. The uploader might get in touch with you to try to resolve their associated copyright strike.
- Physical address and phone number: These will remain confidential unless requested as part of a lawsuit.
- If YouTube is required to share any information, we’ll notify you before doing so.
The uploader of the allegedly infringing video can request a copy of your removal request with the following information:
- Name of purported copyright owner
- Primary email address
- Secondary email address (optional)
- Your full legal name
- Your description of the allegedly infringing work
- Your responses to YouTube's requests for more information.
- YouTube will request more information if your initial removal request is incomplete or appears invalid.
If you don’t have access to your channel, you can find info about your copyright strike in the email YouTube sent (from no-reply@youtube.com) to notify you that your content was removed.