Source: Malaysia Trend
This week, video streaming service YouTube blocked the popular radio channel Lofi Girl over copyright notices which it later called false and ‘abusive.’ The streams of the channel had been running for more than two years, and relaunched on Tuesday, July 12.
Reportedly, the takedown which took place on July 10th, was a result of a demand of Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Apparently, this was from the record label FML Music Sdn Bhd Malaysia. Though the platform reversed the strikes right after this, Lofi Girl used the incident for more strict controls on the system
The owner of the account Lofi Girl (formerly called ChilledCow) tweeted a copy of the DMCA takedown notice. On Sunday, July 10, the notice was for two of its lo-fi hip hop ‘beats to relax/study to’ video streams. In the retweet, Lofi Girl called the reports ‘false copyright strikes,’ with YouTube corroborating the claim the next day. The platform noted how it had reinstated the videos, but the channel could take 24-48 hours to go back to normal. The relaunch of Lofi Girl’s channels came on Tuesday.
“Confirmed the takedown requests were abusive [and] terminated the claimants [sic] account,” it said.
Update on the copyright strike/livestreams takedown 🧵
Thank you to everyone who helped spread the word, your contribution has been invaluable, and I couldn't have asked for a more supportive community! 🧡 https://t.co/DoaCnC21V5
— Lofi Girl (@lofigirl) July 11, 2022
The user noted how this was not the first time that the videos had been taken down as an error. In 2020, YouTube removed the stream briefly owing to a violation of its terms of service which it later referred to as a mistake. Additionally, in 2017, the channel went down due to non-fraudulent copyright issues over the use of the clip from the Studio Ghibli film Whispers of the Heart. They stated how it should hold all rights to stream its lo-fi covers without any legal problems. Moreover, he record label told news outlet Malaysiakini that hackers made use of the account to send the notice.
confirmed the takedown requests were abusive & terminated the claimants account 😔 we've resolved the strikes + reinstated your vids – it can sometimes take 24-48 hours for everything to be back to normal! so sorry this happened & thx for your patience as we sorted it out ❤️🩹
— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) July 11, 2022
Following the statement from YouTube, the user complained in a tweet thread that YouTube’s system opened creators up to false claims with minimal recourse. Lofi Girl stated how the lack of protection or ‘review of false claims’ was appalling. They said how it was fully ‘out of control,’ and that they remain hopeful that YouTube would take to bring changes ‘to their copyright reporting system’ to control such an instance from taking place, ‘and protect all content creators.’
Apparently, FML had its actual page on YouTube used to send out these strikes. However, YouTube’s system has even enabled takedowns coming from clearcut impersonation. In June, Bungie sued a YouTuber who it accused of creating an account to mimic one of its contractors. Further, issuing dozens of copyright strikes against additional creators. Turns out, it was attempting to smear the company’s name by faking a rigorous copyright crackdown.