In a recent viral video, popular YouTuber Mohak accused ANI, a major news agency in India, of misusing YouTube’s copyright system to target creators. He said that ANI sent copyright strikes on his videos for using just a few seconds of their footage. According to YouTube rules, if a channel gets three strikes, it can be permanently deleted. Mohak explained that ANI gave him two strikes and then demanded a payment of Rs. 45 lakh to remove them. He claimed that the ANI representative threatened him, saying that if he didn’t pay, six more strikes would be added, and his channel would be deleted.
YouTubers Accuse ANI of Copyright Extortion
This incident shocked the YouTube creator community. Many big names like Nitish Rajput and Dhruv Rathee spoke out in support of Mohak. They said YouTube must do something to protect creators who work hard for years to grow their channels. Dhruv Rathee even called the actions of ANI an “extortion racket.” Mohak said he spoke with several other creators who also paid huge amounts of money, ranging from Rs. 18 to 50 lakh, just to get the strikes removed.
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The main issue in this case is about “fair use.” Under copyright law, creators can use small parts of copyrighted content for purposes like news, education, or commentary. Mohak believes that his videos followed the fair use rule. But instead of using YouTube’s normal content claim system, ANI went straight to copyright strikes, which are much more harmful. Mohak also shared that ANI refused to accept smaller payments or share ad revenue. Instead, they demanded large, upfront payments for licenses.
In an email shown by Mohak, ANI asked for Rs. 45 lakh plus GST for a one-year license and strike removal. If not paid, they warned that his channel would be deleted. Because of these threats, Mohak said he wrote to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. He asked them to investigate ANI’s actions. He also asked other creators to come forward if they had faced similar issues.
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This situation has raised serious concerns about the abuse of copyright law in India. Many creators now fear that their content and careers could be destroyed unfairly. People are calling on the government and YouTube to step in and protect creators from such threats.
Author: Purnima s
Purnima | Entertainment Blogger 4+ yrs writing fun blogs on movies, celebs & trends. Pop culture addict serving fresh, binge-worthy content!
