Twitch Addresses Increasing DMCA Claims for Copyrighted Music
Twitch has released a new blog post today addressing the recent surge in DMCA claims related to copyrighted music being played on streams. The main message from Twitch is to avoid playing copyrighted music on stream to avoid legal issues.
Rise in DMCA Notifications
In the past, major record labels may have ignored or been unaware of copyrighted music being played on Twitch streams. However, this changed earlier this year. While Twitch used to receive fewer than 50 music-related DMCA notifications annually, the platform is now receiving thousands of notifications each week.
Controversy Sparked by DMCA Takedown Warnings
On October 20, Twitch partners received emails from the platform regarding DMCA takedown warnings. However, these emails did not specify the infringing content, leaving streamers in the dark about their violations.
Twitch’s Plan to Support Creators
Twitch acknowledges the frustration and confusion caused by recent copyright issues and aims to improve its support for creators. The platform advises streamers to avoid playing recorded music without the necessary rights or permissions. This is the best way to protect streams from DMCA notifications.
Many of the takedowns relate to old clips containing copyrighted content. Streamers have been compelled to delete years’ worth of VODs and clips to avoid legal action.
Twitch is actively in discussions with major record labels to explore additional licensing options specifically tailored for the platform. The current licensing models used by other services, which involve sharing revenue with record labels, may not be suitable for Twitch. The majority of Twitch creators do not include recorded music in their streams, and such a deal would have significant revenue implications for them.
In response to the increasing DMCA claims, Twitch is developing new products and tools to help streamers avoid takedowns. These include the ability to mass delete clips, better control over audio in recorded content from livestreams, and a potential system for reviewing alleged infringing content.
Twitch recommends its own fully licensed service, Soundtrack by Twitch, or other rights-cleared options like Soundstripe, Monstercat Gold, Chillhop, Epidemic Sound, and NCS for streamers who still want to enjoy music while streaming.