Twitch DMCA Strike: Counter-Notice and Copyright School

You open Twitch and find an email saying a VOD or clip was removed after a DMCA notification, and your channel now has a copyright strike. You want to know how serious it is, whether you can dispute it, and how to keep the channel safe. This guide walks through Twitch's own DMCA process step by step, using Twitch's DMCA Guidelines and its DMCA and Copyright FAQs. It is general information, not legal advice.

Last checked: 14 November 2026.

#Quick Answer

A Twitch DMCA strike comes from a complete copyright notification against your content, and three strikes lead to termination. If the claim was a mistake, you can send a counter-notification to Twitch or ask the rights holder to retract it. If Twitch invites you to Copyright School, completing it removes one strike, once every 12 months.

#How a Twitch Copyright Strike Happens

Twitch's DMCA Guidelines say that when Twitch receives a complete notification from a rights holder or their authorised agent, it generally notifies the account holder and removes or disables access to the recorded content. It may disable a livestream or suspend an account if the claimed infringement is continuing at the time. Twitch says it will send you information about the notification and issue a copyright strike under its repeat infringer policy.

Twitch's DMCA and Copyright FAQs describe strikes as the penalty applied when Twitch receives a complete DMCA notification against allegedly infringing content on your channel. Twitch says it is not a copyright court and acts as a go-between, so it does not decide who is right.

#What Is and Is Not a Strike

Twitch's Music Reporting Process page says this process is only for music rights holders who have opted in and does not replace the DMCA process, so a channel can still receive DMCA notifications from other rights holders.

#The Three-Strike Rule

Twitch's DMCA Guidelines say a user is considered a repeat infringer if they accrue three copyright strikes, and Twitch will terminate the account holder's access. Twitch also says it can terminate accounts that act against its Terms of Service regardless of strike count. The guidelines say strikes are not permanent, and the FAQs say copyright strikes expire, with the date depending on factors such as when the strike was issued and the account's standing. Twitch does not publish a fixed expiry period.

#Step 1: Read the Notification Carefully

• Note which content was removed, the date, and the name of the claimant.
• Check your Copyright Claims Manager, where Twitch says the claimant's contact email is identified.
• Check whether you had a licence or permission for the material.
• Keep the email and any licence documents together.

#Step 2: Choose Between a Retraction and a Counter-Notification

#Step 3: Ask the Rights Holder for a Retraction

Twitch says you can seek a retraction by contacting the rights holder or agent directly, using the contact email in Twitch's notification email or your Copyright Claims Manager. Keep it short and factual: the content, the date, and why you believe the claim was a mistake, such as a licence you hold.

#Step 4: Send a Counter-Notification if It Fits

Twitch says counter-notifications go by email to the address given in its DMCA Guidelines, and must include all of the following, all of which will be shared with the claimant:

• The URL or URLs where the material appeared before it was removed or disabled.
• The name of the claimant who submitted the notification.
• Your Twitch channel name.
• Your full legal name, email address and full postal address.
• A contact number including the international code.
• The affidavit Twitch sets out, with your name added.

The affidavit includes consent to the jurisdiction of the Federal District Court for the judicial district where your address is located, or if your address is outside the United States, the judicial district in which Twitch may be found, and acceptance of service of process from the claimant. It also includes a statement under penalty of perjury that you have a good faith belief the material was removed as a result of mistake or misidentification. You may also explain why you believe there was a mistake.

#Step 5: Copyright School

Twitch says that if you receive a strike and are eligible to have it removed, you will get an invitation to Copyright School by email and through a banner on twitch.tv. Completing it after that invitation removes one copyright strike, and you can take it once every 12 months. Viewing Copyright School without an invitation does not remove a strike.

#Step 6: Protect the Channel Going Forward

• Review older VODs and clips for unlicensed music or footage; Twitch's FAQs say you can unpublish videos or delete them in bulk.
• Remember that deleted content cannot be restored, so keep your own copies of anything you may need as evidence.
• Use music you have the rights to stream.
• Read Twitch's Community Guidelines, which cover intellectual property alongside other rules.

#What Twitch Decides

Twitch decides whether notifications and counter-notifications are complete and applies its repeat infringer policy. It does not judge who is right in a copyright dispute; that is for the rights holder and account holder, and if needed a court. Twitch also says it may not be able to reinstate some material, for example because of the passage of time.

#When It Is Safer to Get Expert Help

If your channel is close to three strikes, or you are unsure whether a counter-notification is wise, a mistake can cost the channel. If you are stuck with this, we can take a look and help you organise the facts and the official steps; for legal questions, a lawyer is the right person. You can read about our business and creator recovery service and how we work on our trust page, then use Apply for Case Review below when you are ready. Reply within 60 seconds, 24 hours a day, every day.

Related guides: copyright takedowns on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, fake copyright violation messages and appealing a Twitch suspension.

#Frequently Asked Questions