Topline
As a consequence of false copyright claims, YouTube took down — after which reinstated, with an apology — the radios of standard YouTube streaming channel Lofi Woman, a preferred music channel that broadcasts stress-free hip hop music its subscribers say they hearken to whereas finding out.
Lofi Woman’s hottest stream amassed 668 million views earlier than YouTube took it down.
Key Info
Lofi Woman relaunched its channels at midday ET on Tuesday, two days after YouTube eliminated the radios as a consequence of copyright takedown notices.
The file label “FMC Music Sdn Bhd Malaysia” issued a Digital Millennium Copyright Act, or DMCA, takedown of Lofi Woman’s streams, in accordance with a screenshot of the discover Lofi Woman tweeted on July 10.
On Monday, a YouTube spokesperson responded to Lofi Woman’s tweet, confirming the “takedown requests have been abusive” and terminating the claimant’s account.
The takedown sparked broader on-line criticism — together with 3,500 tweets beneath the hashtag #BringBackLofiGirl — of YouTube’s copyright strike insurance policies, the place three legitimate DMCA complaints in 90 days ends in account termination.
Critics have emphasised that dangerous actors can weaponize the policy by falsely reporting movies they need taken down.
All through the takedown, YouTube customers left feedback on the now-defunct stream expressing their gratitude for the net neighborhood Lofi Woman’s stream has created via music and the in-stream chat operate.
YouTube didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Large Quantity
20,843. That’s the size, in hours, of Lofi Woman’s steady music livestream earlier than YouTube took it down. Though a brand new stream has began, the unique video nonetheless shows YouTube’s “This reside stream recording just isn’t obtainable” discover.
Key Background
Lofi Woman is much from alone, as any content material proprietor can situation a DMCA takedown in the event that they declare their content material was revealed on-line on any platform with out their permission. The system is a part of a United States copyright legislation that Congress handed in 1998. Within the years since, the variety of copyright claims has exploded. As early as 2016, Google — which owns YouTube — stated it handles roughly two million copyright takedown notices per day.
And with the expansion of the content material creator business, YouTubers who depend upon the platform and its advertisements for earnings have repeatedly called for change. Even for Lofi Woman, this weekend’s takedown was the channel’s third, following incidents in 2017 and 2020.
Essential Quote
“We’re shocked and disillusioned to see that there is nonetheless not any sort of safety or handbook assessment of those false claims,” Lofi Woman posted on Twitter Monday. “On the finish of the day, it was totally out of our management, and the unhappy half is that there was no technique to enchantment beforehand/stop it from taking place.”
Tangent
Lofi Woman’s avatar, which is an animated depiction of a woman listening to music whereas writing an essay, is impressed by the protagonist of the anime movie Whisper of the Coronary heart. Over time, she has expanded right into a beloved web presence and is usually the topic of cosplays and Halloween costumes.
Additional Studying
YouTube removed popular ‘Lofi Girl’ streams after it received false and ‘abusive’ copyright claims (Enterprise Insider)
YouTube Apologizes for Removing Iconic Lofi Girl (Vice)
YouTube says it will reinstate Lofi Girl’s livestreams after false copyright claim (NBC)
YouTube channels are being held hostage with false copyright claims, but the platform’s hands are tied (Enterprise Insider)
