If you submitted a copyright removal request in error, you can retract it. Retracting a copyright removal request will:
- Clear the copyright strike from the uploader’s channel, unless other content is contributing to the strike.
- Restore the uploader’s content to YouTube, unless the uploader deleted the content.
If you're an uploader whose content was removed, you may be able to request a retraction.
If you submitted the removal request
There are 2 ways to retract a copyright removal request:
- Retract in YouTube Studio
- Retract by email
If your removal request has already been resolved and resulted in the removal of content, you can retract it in YouTube Studio:
- Sign in to YouTube Studio on a computer.
- From the left menu, select Copyright
.
- In the Removal Requests tab, find the video you submitted the removal request for.
- Click "Expand"
to show more details about the video.
- If the video has already been removed, click RETRACT REMOVAL. If the video is pending removal due to a scheduled removal request, click RETRACT REQUEST.
- In the pop-up window, click RETRACT.
You can retract a removal request by email as long as the email meets these requirements:
- Email must be sent from the original claimant or an authorized representative (such as an attorney) on the claimant's behalf.
- Email must be sent from the same email address or corporate domain that was used to submit the original removal request.
- Email must include the following information:
- Formatted links to the content from your removal request: For videos, the valid URL format is
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxxxxxxxx. For non-video content, use the URL format for the appropriate content type listed here. - Statement of retraction: For example, "I hereby retract my claim of copyright infringement." Keep in mind that we can only accept a retraction of the removal request. We can’t accept a retraction of only the copyright strike such as “I retract my copyright strike.”
- Electronic signature: At the bottom of the email, the claimant, or authorized representative, must enter their full legal name as their signature. A full legal name cannot be a company name.
- Formatted links to the content from your removal request: For videos, the valid URL format is
- Email must be sent to copyright@youtube.com.
If your content was removed
If you're an uploader whose content was removed due to a copyright removal request, you can get in touch with the claimant directly and ask for a retraction. Some creators list ways they can be contacted in their channel.
Keep in mind that, by law, YouTube cannot mediate copyright ownership disputes.