Are False Copyright Strikes On YouTube Bad For Publicity?

The short answer is that it depends! But first let’s talk about what is a false copyright strike. A false copyright strike is when one creator flags a video for using copyrighted material. In the case of YouTube, that copyrighted material is the video content. It becomes a false copyright strike, when there’s usually a good reason for using that copyrighted material. Usually the defense is fair use, but we’ll talk about that later.

False copyright strikes can be very on brand for some YouTube creators. For example, there are certain YouTube creators who are always craving attention both bad and good. Therefore, a false copyright strike feeds that addiction. On the other hand, it can really damage a creator who does not have that reputation.

The question then becomes: why would someone who doesn’t have a bad reputation want to false copyright strike a YouTube video? A lot of the time it is because another creator either used some of their content to for commentary or for a funny video. In making a false copyright strike, these creators want this negative criticism to come down. However, what happens is that it generates more discussion. For commentary channels, there is a high probability that any commentary will not stop after a false copyright strike. We have seen this numerous times on the YouTube space.

Now, I have heard talk from creators who have received false copyright strikes that their use of another’s video content is under fair use. The truth of this is that fair use is a legal defense, which is why false copyright strikes are usually not removed unless by YouTube or the creator who flagged the video. That being said, it is interesting to hear fair use come up because I think it can be used as a PR point as well. Usually when a creator says something is fair use and it obviously could be according to the definition, audiences rally behind the creator. That activity changes the public perception, which further adds to the backlash of the creator who made the copyright strike.

So, what do I recommend?

I typically would err on not making a copyright strike if the dispute is over negative criticism. However, if someone has blatantly copied your video content and is passing it off on their own, that is most likely not going to hurt a YouTubers reputation.

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