The streaming platform Twitch has deleted thousands of clips that violate copyright. Furthermore, streamers have been warned. This concerns the use of copyrighted music. Streamers now seem perplexed: they have to delete content that dates back years, and thus their life’s work.
This is the situation: Some streamers on Twitch have been using music in their videos for years: they let songs play in the background to create ambiance. They think nothing of it or at least not much.
This has always been against Twitch’s rules but remained without real consequence for a long time.
In June 2020, however, music publishers began to scour Twitch’s archives for such copyright violations. They then filed complaints with Twitch that streamers were using copyrighted music.
The music industry has apparently exerted pressure on Twitch: they should take these clips offline.
Twitch subsequently warned streamers and said they needed to clean up their archives. A tone was struck that put the streamers in panic: they felt threatened that Twitch would ban them for things they did years ago.
Some streamers then deleted all their clips: The German streamer and comedian Kaya Yanar was one of those who took down his clips and videos (via twitter). He said it had become “dangerous.”
Now in October 2020, the topic is boiling up again, as Twitch has deleted thousands of clips and warned hundreds of streamers.
Twitch is now giving streamers a specific date to clean up their channel: they only have until Friday to review all their material and delete content.
Streamers have only a few days to clean all videos
This was the warning: On October 20, Twitch sent a message to “hundreds of streamers”:
- They found “one or more” copyright violations on the channel – and deleted the respective content
- Twitch acknowledges that they give the streamer no opportunity to contest the deletion. They issue the streamers a one-time warning
- Streamers should review all their clips and videos to see if there are further copyright violations. These clips should then be deleted
- As of Friday, normal copyright violation rules apply again
As can be seen from tweets, many well-known streamers received this email, including LIRIK, Mongraal, Jack “CouRage” Dunlop, or CoD pro Scump.
The streamers appear insecure and perplexed.
Because the tricky part is that Twitch is withholding from the streamers which clips have been deleted and which song it was exactly.
The email also does not mention what the consequences will be if streamers continue to have clips in their archives that violate copyrights.
This has created a situation where streamers appeared angry and perplexed.
This is the problem: Those who have been on Twitch longer have no overview of which clips and videos at some point had music playing. Therefore, streamers are now puzzled about what to do. They simply cannot comply with the request to “review their material” in this way.
Some streamers see only one option for themselves: they have to delete all videos and clips. In doing so, they are destroying their “life’s work” on Twitch.
As the streamer Ellohime points out, it will be difficult to use “In-game Music” in the future. Even that could be copyright protected.
The streamer “TimTheTatman” speaks on Twitch about being perplexed. The solution would probably be to “Nuke it” – to delete everything. Otherwise, he doesn’t know what he should do now:
This is the criticism: The streaming expert, Devin Nash, criticizes Twitch’s approach. He says it is simply crazy. Twitch needs to provide a system that allows streamers to specifically find such videos that violate copyright.
Twitch’s solution now is that streamers must “delete their life’s work.” This is ignorant.
Just like many other streamers, “Teawrex” writes that he simply doesn’t understand why Twitch can’t manage to explain to people the rules that they’re supposedly breaking (via twitter).
Twitch allegedly deletes clips “without penalties for streamers”
This is what Twitch says: In a statement to the website Kotaku, a spokesperson for Twitch admits that they’ve received thousands of complaints from rights holders. These complaints must be addressed legally.
In an official statement on Twitter, it is further stated that Twitch is proud to have become such an important service for many artists. It is critical for Twitch to protect the rights of songwriters and partners in the music industry.
They want to continue to work on giving Twitch streamers the opportunity to collaborate with the music industry.
We are incredibly proud of the essential service Twitch has become for so many creators, including songwriters, artists and other music industry partners, during this challenging time. It is critical to us that their rights are respected.
— Twitch Support (@TwitchSupport) October 20, 2020
On Twitter, it is also said: In additional cases, Twitch wants to delete clips that violate copyright without punishing the streamers.
This is what it’s about: For years, the topic of “Copyright” on Twitch received too little attention. Streamers thought: The music is just playing, no one will mind. No one watches a streamer just to hear music. With the growing relevance of Twitch in 2020 came the rude awakening: Twitch received thousands of complaints about copyright violations.
Allegedly, large music publishers have now co-financed a company that screens streams for copyright violations in order to prevent them. At least that’s what lawyer Noah Downs said in a live stream.
Twitch apparently has no technical means to resolve the problem “cleanly” and is now passing the pressure on to the content creators.
As a result of the current wave of complaints, Twitch has apparently just deleted all clips that were subject to complaints without hearing from the creators or informing them exactly which clips were deleted.
The critical question in practice is: What can happen to Twitch streamers in the worst case if they have further such clips in their archives that are discovered by music detectives?
- In June 2020, it was still thought that Twitch would impose bans for this, and people could lose their channels
- However, according to Twitch’s new statement on Twitter, it seems like Twitch is simply deleting the clips itself and the streamer receives no “penalty”
The situation still appears unclear. This is currently unsettling for streamers.
In any case, it is bitter that several streamers here delete their “archives” from Twitch and thousands of clips and videos disappear from the internet forever.
In June 2020, the topic of “Copyright” on Twitch caused a short panic. At that time, streamers even received multiple warnings. At that time, some feared for their Twitch accounts and thus for their number one source of income:
Copyright strikes cause panic – streamers delete clips out of fear of a ban
