Strikes! Every streamer’s worst nightmare. When you just start streaming, you might not know the full terms of service for Twitch, which can lead to you breaking some serious rules and getting some DMCA strikes.
Even the biggest streamers get a strike every now and then, so it’s a relatively common issue that can be avoided by taking some precautionary measures. We’re going to explain DMCA strikes in full and tell you everything you need to know about them.
Do Twitch Strikes Go Away?
Yes! DMCA strikes are included in a system where you can get three strikes, the last of which results in a permanent ban. The way Twitch intended this to work is to give you one DMCA strike when you break the policy, giving you a 24h ban. The second strike is a one to seven-day ban, and the third strike is a permanent ban. To get multiple strikes, you need to get multiple strikes within 90 days, and if you’re clean beyond that time period, any strikes you’ve had before will be reset.
What Are DMCA Strikes?
DMCA, or the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, is a law that prohibits you from using someone else’s content and presenting it as your own. This can include anything from music to movies.
They are more than prevalent on Twitch, and the way they work is that if someone notices that someone else is stealing content and reports them, Twitch will investigate the matter and act accordingly.
If the user in question is guilty, they get a strike. One strike equates to a 24h ban, two strikes last one to seven days, and three strikes are a permanent ban.
How To Avoid DMCA Strikes On Twitch?
One of the best ways to make sure you get no DMCA strikes on Twitch is to use royalty-free music. This type of music can usually fit into any genre you want, so there’s something for everyone.
You can also ask the artists for permission to use their content. If you find a small indie artist that produces music you like and want to play on your stream, you can always contact them and ask for permission to play their music. Some artists are happy to share their music and get some extra exposure, especially if it’s a big streamer.
White noise is another alternative to playing copyright music. Ambiance doesn’t always fit into every stream, but if you’re a chill streamer that doesn’t need to be crazy all the time, some rain sounds are an excellent way of filling the void.
Can You Play Video Game Music Without Getting Strikes?
Well, yes and no. DMCA rights really depend on the source of the music or content you’re trying to use. Companies like Riot Games have released special tracks that are completely free to use and carry no risk of copyright strikes.
On the other hand, companies like Nintendo are more likely to report you since their copyright policy is a lot stricter. To be sure about what content is safe for use, do your research!
Wrapping Up
And there you have it, all of the information about DMCA strikes you could ask for! We know that the rules of Twitch can seem a bit scary when you don’t know much about them, but they are usually easy to avoid if you’re careful. We sincerely hope that you have found this informative and helpful!
