Dispute a Content ID claim

If your video got aContent ID claim,you can dispute a claim if you have a valid reason, such as:

  • Having all the necessary rights to the content in your video.
  • Using the content in a way that qualifies as a copyright exception, such asfair use.
  • Believing your video was misidentified or an error was made.
Copyright strikes are different from Content ID claims. If your channel got a copyright strike, go to thecopyright strikesarticle to learn more.

When you dispute a Content ID claim, the person that claimed your video (the claimant) is notified. The claimant has30 daysto respond.

Before you dispute

Before you dispute a Content ID claim, you may want to learn more aboutpublic domainand copyright exceptions likefair useor fair dealing. Keep in mind that these areNOTlegitimate reasons to dispute a claim:

If you don't submit a dispute, there are a few other ways toresolve a Content ID claim,such as removing the claimed content from your video.

Ultimately, YouTube can’t decide whether you should dispute a claim. If you’re not sure what to do, you may want to seek legal advice before you dispute.

Keep in mind that you should only dispute a claimif you're confident that you have all the necessary rights to use the claimed content.Repeated or malicious abuse of the dispute process can result in penalties against your video or channel.

Submit a dispute

To dispute a Content ID claim:

  1. Sign in toYouTube Studio.
  2. From the left menu, selectContent.
  3. In theVideostab, find the video with the claim you want to dispute.
    • To find the video more easily, you can click the filter barand thenCopyright.
  4. In theRestrictionscolumn, hover overCopyright.
  5. ClickSEEDETAILS.
  6. Under theContent identified in this videosection, find the relevant claim and clickSELECT ACTIONSand thenDispute.
Note:You may have an option toEscalate to Appealfor Content ID claims that block your video. This option skips the initial dispute step and starts the dispute process with anappeal.Learn more about theEscalate to Appealoption.

After you dispute

After you submit a dispute, the person that claimed your video (the claimant) has30 daysto respond.

What the claimant can do
  • Release the claim:If the claimant agrees with your dispute, they can release their claim. If you were previously monetizing the video, your monetization settings will be restored automatically when all claims on your video are released. Learn more aboutmonetization during Content ID disputes.
  • Reinstate the claim:If the claimant believes that their claim is still valid, they can reinstate it. This means that your dispute was rejected and the claim stays on your video. You may be eligible toappeal this decision.
  • Submit a takedown request:If the claimant believes that their claim is still valid, they can submit acopyright takedown request.If the takedown request isvalid,your video is removed from YouTube and your channel gets acopyright strike.Learn more about options forresolving a copyright strike.
  • Let the claim expire:If the claimant doesn’t respond within 30 days, the claim on your video will expire and be released from your video.

Learn more about the dispute process in this video's chapter "Dispute Process for Content ID":

Content ID Claims & Dispute Process: Manage & Action Claims in Studio

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What happens if my dispute is rejected?
If your dispute is rejected, the claim will remain on your video. If you're still confident the claim is invalid, you may be eligible to appeal the decision. Learn more aboutappealing a Content ID claim.
Keep in mind that the claimant can submit acopyright takedown requestat any time during the dispute process. If this happens and the takedown request isvalid,your video would be removed from YouTube and your channel would get acopyright strike.
Why does the claimant review both the initial dispute and the appeal?

The initial dispute and theappealare reviewed by the claimant because YouTube can’t make ownership determinations. YouTube doesn’t know what content was properly licensed and can’t determine what qualifies for exceptions to copyright, such asfair useor fair dealing.

The appeal step ensures a more thorough review by the claimant because, if they choose to reinstate their claim, they're required to submit acopyright takedown request(a legal process) to keep the video down. After that, if you decide to submit acounter notification,the claimant is then required to file a lawsuit to keep your video down.

What's the difference between the dispute and Escalate to Appeal options?

The initial dispute option can take up to30 daysfor the claimant to respond to the dispute. If they reject your dispute, you may be able to appeal the decision. The claimant then has 7 days to respond to the appeal.

The Escalate to Appeal option is only available for Content ID claims that block your video. This option skips the initial dispute step, which gives the claimant 30 days to respond, and starts the process with an appeal. The claimant then has7 daysto respond, so the process can be resolved faster.

If the claimant rejects your appeal, they could then submit acopyright takedown request.If the takedown request isvalid,your video would be removed from YouTube and your channel would get acopyright strike.Keep in mind that you can still submit acounter notificationif you're confident that a takedown request is invalid.

Can a video have more than one Content ID claim on it?
Yes, a video can have multiple Content ID claims on it. Note that a video can also have more than one takedown request on it, but can only have one copyright strike at a time.
If I don't dispute a Content ID claim, how can I resolve it?
If you choose not to dispute, there areother waysto resolve a Content ID claim, such asremoving the claimed contentfrom your video.
Can I cancel a dispute after it’s submitted?
No, once you’ve submitted a dispute, it can’t be canceled.

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