Short answer
A copyright strike can be resolved three ways. Wait: it expires after 90 days if you complete Copyright School. Ask for a retraction: contact the person who filed the removal request. File a counter notification — only if the removal was a mistake or your use is covered by an exception such as fair use. Three active strikes can terminate the channel, so treat the first one seriously and stop uploading similar material until it is resolved.
Strike or claim?
A Content ID claim is not a strike: the video stays up and the owner may monetise it or block it in some countries. A copyright strike follows a legal removal request: the video is taken down and the strike counts against the channel. Three strikes in 90 days can lead to termination, so knowing which one you have decides how urgent this is.
Option 1: Copyright School and 90 days
If the claim is valid, the cleanest route is to accept it: complete Copyright School in YouTube Studio and the strike expires after 90 days, provided you don’t receive more. Use the time to check the rest of your uploads for the same music, clips or footage.
Option 2: ask for a retraction
Sometimes the person who filed the request will withdraw it — a licence you actually had, a collaboration, a misunderstanding. Contact them politely through the details shown in YouTube Studio, explain briefly and include proof. A retraction removes the strike.
Option 3: counter notification
- Only if the removal was a mistake or your use is covered by an exception such as fair use.
- It is a legal statement: your contact details are shared with the claimant.
- If the claimant doesn’t respond within 10 US business days with evidence of legal action, the video is reinstated.
- A false counter notification has legal consequences — when in doubt, get advice before filing.
If the channel was terminated
A channel terminated for copyright strikes comes back through the strikes: each retraction or successful counter notification removes one. How termination appeals work is in our YouTube termination guide; we prepare these cases in YouTube channel recovery.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a copyright strike last?
It expires after 90 days if you complete Copyright School and don’t get further strikes; a retraction or a successful counter notification removes it sooner.
Does deleting the video remove the strike?
No. The strike stays even if you delete the video; only expiry, a retraction or a counter notification clears it.
Can I monetise with an active strike?
Strikes can affect access to features, and a channel with three active strikes can be terminated. Resolve them before relying on the channel for income.
Is a Content ID claim the same as a strike?
No. A claim does not count against the channel; a strike does.
Sources: YouTube Help — copyright strike basics, YouTube Help — counter notifications, YouTube Help — retractions