DJs attempting to host live streams on Twitch are noticing an increase in copyright takedowns in line with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), reports Paper.
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The streaming platform’s Community Guidelines for music specify that copyrighted music is not allowed on the platform.
An example listed of music content not allowed on Twitch streams is: “DJ Set – Playing and/or mixing pre-recorded music tracks which incorporate music, other than music which is owned by you or music which is licensed for you to share on Twitch.”
Those rules now seem to be getting enforced more stringently than previously, with a number of streamers posting on social media about takedowns. Some have expressed shock at their accounts being at risk of being permanently banned.
Got a DMCA 2 more and my twitch account is permanently gone, Kinda crazy 5 years of work can just vanish in 2 seconds.
— cloakzy (@cloakzy) June 8, 2020
Twitch policy has always had the rules about not being allowed to play copyrighted music. They’re just now cracking down on it. Wouldn’t be surprised if they’re threatening to be sued by labels rn & that’s why they’re suddenly enforcing..
— Amber Lovin (@SoulSpeekin) June 7, 2020
.@Twitch @TwitchSupport
— Edison Park (@edisonparklive) June 7, 2020
Your infrastructure is preventing us from upholding DMCA laws:
1) Older clips aren't loading in the manager so we can't even delete infringements
2) 'Delete all clips for this video' functionality is broken https://t.co/7VuSmu2tyu
As a platform Twitch must comply with Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which for the most part protects websites and platforms from legal liability of content posted by its users, but not does allow for the intellectual property laws to be violated. This means platforms are accountable to copyright infringement if it’s not dealt with, or they face losing the Safe Harbor protection of showing “good faith” in complying with the law.
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Twitch’s takedowns follow Instagram recently implementing pop-ups to warn against DJ live streams featuring copyrighted music.
Patrick Hinton is Mixmag's Digital Features Editor, follow him on Twitter
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