In a shocking turn of events, YouTube has penalised three Hindi news channels over copyright strikes from Emmy award winning independent photojournalist and cinematographer Brandon Clement.
It appears that YouTube has disabled upload function for News Nation channel as the last video uploaded was on December 15, 2023.
Additionally, YouTube copyright strikes have also affected the Zee News and TV9Bharatvarsh channels as they uploaded the last videos on December 19, 2023.
Clement released a thread of posts on X earlier this week showing copyright violations by Indian news channels including NewsNation, India TV, TV9 Bharatvarsh among others.
Clement, who runs a content licensing platform WxChase, shared a couple of screenshots of News Nation’s YouTube channel and asked YouTube if it was their policy to allow channels to mass delete content after DMCA takedowns have been submitted to avoid penalty.
Clement claimed that News Nation deleted about 27,000 videos in the last 72 hours to avoid penalty.
Epic Copyright thread incoming.@YouTube @TeamYouTube Is it your policy to allow channels to mass delete content after DMCA takedowns have been submitted to avoid penalty? This is just one of many examples we have. This channel had more videos with my content than I have on my… pic.twitter.com/5LbntYM5CA
— WxChasing- Brandon Clement (@bclemms) December 18, 2023
Clement said that News Nation was not just ripping content but they were removing or covering watermarks and claiming it was their exclusive content.
“They were using content such as @MesoMax919 Hurricane Ian surge video or @ReedTimmerAccu Andover video or @PecosHank Madill, Ok video over and over for unrelated events globally,” he said.
News Nation was not just ripping content. They were removing or covering watermarks. They were claiming it was their exclusive content. They were using content such as @MesoMax919 Hurricane Ian surge video or @ReedTimmerAccu Andover video or @PecosHank Madill, Ok video over and…
— WxChasing- Brandon Clement (@bclemms) December 18, 2023
Clement shared a screenshot of a video on News Nation channel accused that they slapped banners and ads over Hank's logo.
“They are claiming this was a tornado in December 2022 when it occurred in April 2020. 100% intent to infringe and misinform to earn money,” he said.
They slapped banners and ads over Hank's logo. They are claiming this was a tornado in December 2022 when it occurred in April 2020. 100% intent to infringe and misinform to earn money. pic.twitter.com/8CS9ALE1DG
— WxChasing- Brandon Clement (@bclemms) December 18, 2023
In the next thread, Clement mentioned a list of over 1,000 videos that the channels including NewsNation, TV9 Bharatvarsh, India TV and Times Now Navbharat were removing evidence to avoid penalty.
“All of these were DMCA actioned and deleted prior to youtube actioning,” Clement said.
These are some of the videos and channels removing evidence to avoid penalty. All of these were DMCA actioned and deleted prior to youtube actioning. pic.twitter.com/07nXNOaTwT
— WxChasing- Brandon Clement (@bclemms) December 18, 2023
Naming India TV in his next thread, Clament said that of the videos had been up for 9 years.
“We issue a takedown, mysteriously deleted. We submitted dmca takedowns more than a week ago. Youtube asked us to repeat the same information in our initial report. Then they gave us a fair use statement. Then they said they need more time. I guess they could be psychic? (sic)” he wrote.
You'll notice India TV on this list of channels deleting content. One of the videos had been up for 9 years. We issue a takedown, mysteriously deleted. We submitted dmca takedowns more than a week ago. Youtube asked us to repeat the same information in our initial report. Then…
— WxChasing- Brandon Clement (@bclemms) December 18, 2023