History ScrewedByTheLawyers / NewMedia

* From 2015 until 2018 ''WebVideo/OddityArchive'' host Ben Minotte was forced to re-edit several older episodes of the show starting with the "Teletext" episode to trim down (and remove/replace) portions of music and film/TV footage due to copyright issues with Platform/YouTube's [=ContentID=] system. Despite the footage being under fair use, Ben has said the reason for the re-edits was due to him not having time to dispute the claims as well as keeping his channel from getting suspended. These re-edits would ultimately result in Ben using significantly less copyrighted footage in future episodes.

* The phrase "this video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by *insert name of company*, (Sorry about that.)" has become a well known sight on Platform/YouTube, even with Team Four Star, who put a disclaimer at the beginning of every episode they post. The Creator/WarnerMusicGroup has also been responsible for taking away music from videos, saying that it violates copyright. If a video gets blocked for copyright infringement, the user who posted that particular video would usually get a copyright strike and would be forced to watch the WebAnimation/HappyTreeFriends video about copyright law and take a trivia question. If a user gets three strikes, their account will be banned and all of the user's videos will be removed from the site.

* The phrase "this video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by *insert name of company*, (Sorry about that.)" has become a well known sight on Website/YouTube, even with Team Four Star, who put a disclaimer at the beginning of every episode they post. The Creator/WarnerMusicGroup has also been responsible for taking away music from videos, saying that it violates copyright. If a video gets blocked for copyright infringement, the user who posted that particular video would usually get a copyright strike and would be forced to watch the WebAnimation/HappyTreeFriends video about copyright law and take a trivia question. If a user gets three strikes, their account will be banned and all of the user's videos will be removed from the site.

** Website/YouTube has come under fire for the fact that they remove videos just because of an infringement claim without investigating whether the video is Fair Use or not. [=YouTube=], and "Content Service Providers" in general, are required by law to pull without investigation as soon as they receive proper notice, or else they themselves can be [[{{Pun}} Sued by the Lawyers]]. Uploaders can object to cases of "mistake or misidentification", in other words claiming that the copyright owner made a mistake when it failed to see that "it's legal Fair Use, damn it!"

* From 2015 until 2018 ''WebVideo/OddityArchive'' host Ben Minotte was forced to re-edit several older episodes of the show starting with the “Teletext” episode to trim down (and remove/replace) portions of music and film/TV footage due to copyright issues with Website/YouTube’s [=ContentID=] system. Despite the footage being under fair use, Ben has said the reason for the re-edits was due to him not having time to dispute the claims as well as keeping his channel from getting suspended. These re-edits would ultimately result in Ben using significantly less copyrighted footage in future episodes.

* ''WebVideo/SabatonHistory''[='s=] episode for the song "Talvisota" was copyright-struck by Website/YouTube after it got caught in a legal dispute between the Finnish government and Reuters over the rights to video that producer [=TimeGhost=] History had licensed from the Reuters archive. The studio contacted the Finnish government to appeal the decision and got the strike removed.
* ''WebVideo/StarTrekContinues'' was once hit with a copyright strike from Website/YouTube. [[SubvertedTrope It was apparently filed by a third party]], as current rights-holder Creator/{{CBS}} told [=YouTube=] to drop it and put the series back up. Creator/VicMignogna is quite proud of his good relationship with the company, which he attributed in an interview after ''WebVideo/PreludeToAxanar'' was infamously sued to 1) checking in with their legal department on a regular basis and 2) keeping firmly in mind that ''he's not supposed to be making money off of the web series''.

* Some flashes on Website/{{Newgrounds}} are victims of this due to being based on copyrighted works, as Newgrounds has received [[http://www.newgrounds.com/lit/legal.html cease-and-detest letters]] from companies such as Creator/TheBBC (for a ''Series/{{Teletubbies}}'' spoof called "Teletubby Fun Land", which has been eventually renamed to "Tele''bubby'' Fun Land"), [[Creator/JimHenson The Jim Henson Company]] (for a VideoGame/{{Pico}} game parodying ''Series/BearInTheBigBlueHouse''), and Creator/{{M|etroGoldwynMayer}}GM (for a ''Franchise/RoboCop'' flash tribute made by a fan).

* Many online scanlation sites have removed their archived scanlations because of attitude shifts from some publishers. In fact, quite a number of them have been shut down or censored due to publisher pressure.

* The web series ''WebVideo/AdultWednesdayAddams'', focusing on [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a grown-up]] [[Franchise/TheAddamsFamily Wednesday Addams]] as she navigates twentysomething life in UsefulNotes/LosAngeles, got taken down after its creator Creator/MelissaHunter received a cease-and-desist letter from Creator/CharlesAddams' estate. Hunter laid out the situation [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SebuPhdRxMM here]]. Fortunately, some enterprising individuals have taken to reposting the series on other sites.
* From 2015 until 2018 ''WebVideo/OddityArchive'' host Ben Minotte was forced to re-edit several older episodes of the show starting with the “Teletext” episode to trim down (and remove/replace) portions of music and film/TV footage due to copyright issues with Website/YouTube’s [=ContentID=] system. Despite the footage being under fair use, Ben has said the reason for the re-edits was due to him not having time to dispute the claims as well as keeping his channel from getting suspended. These re-edits would ultimately result in Ben using significantly less copyrighted footage in future episodes.
** Additionally in the "[=PSAs=]" episode, Ben talked about the ''Rock Against Drugs'' ads from the 80’s. Though he refused to show footage from the ads due to their usage of copyrighted music.

* ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'' has been hit with this. The series used to have the title cards use various music from various artists to match the mood of the book he was going to read. This ended with Linkara's review of ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' "Secret Origins", using various remixes of the theme song. As well, reviews using various cartoons, movies and television shows tend to be clipped in such a way that it can get past the Youtube [=ContentID=] program.
* Since Kids II started owning the ''Series/BabyEinstein'' Company in 2013, most of the time [=YouTube=] uploads of the videos that weren't from the official Baby Einstein channel would usually get instantaneously blocked and copyright-claimed upon upload (most fan-made content from other users were typically exempt). However, starting on December 19th, 2022, various fan-made creations and other such videos would start getting blocked and trademark-claimed after one such user got slapped with a cease-and-desist. Most users started combating this by marking all such videos private for the foreseeable future, while others have been backing them up via different means.
* In one case, ''WebAnimation/ButtonsAdventures'' was taken down by a third party lawyer supposedly on behalf of Hasbro despite that they had no problem with any of the MLP characters used in fan properties that didn't damage the integrity (something that Buttons Adventures most certainly didn't.) Not only had the persons responsible since been fired, but talks ''were'' in order with [=JanAnimations=] (the creator) for a form of compensation.....[[https://web.archive.org/web/20171217200415/https://ask-thecrusaders.tumblr.com/post/117841628509/so-how-can-we-got-to-wait-till-august-for-you-to but the talks didn't seem to work out]].
* Parodied in WebVideo/{{Caddicarus}}'s review of the Video Game adaption of ''Film/HowTheGrinchStoleChristmas''. Caddy starts singing "[[Film/TheMuppetChristmasCarol Thankful Heart]]" after he finds that the game is SoOkayItsAverage (at least, compared to ''Santa Claus Saves the Earth''). He's only 2 lines into the song before:
-->'''AND THEN COPYRIGHT HAPPENED!'''
* Website/CardConjurer, a website for making custom ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' cards, was shut down after a cease and desist from Creator/WizardsOfTheCoast. It was only able to come back as a site for making generic cards, with the ''Magic'' material removed.
* Website/Channel101 had to cancel ''WebAnimation/HouseOfCosbys'' because of a cease and desist from Creator/BillCosby's attorney.

* This trope didn't kill ''The Film Crew'' outright (via Jim Mallon threatening to pull the ''[[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 MST3K]]'' license from Rhino Entertainment if they worked with the project), but it definitely made things more difficult; Nelson, Murphy, and Corbett eventually moved on to ''Podcast/RiffTrax'', which was much easier to produce.
** Jim Mallon explained that the reason he didn't want Rhino producing ''The Film Crew'', was they'd be spending money on b-movies for The Film Crew, when they could be using whatever money they had for b-movies shown on [=MST3K=] ([=MST3K=] only secured temporary rights to their movies while the show was on the air, and the rights have to be re-negotiated for [=DVD=]s. It's not easy, or cheap).
** ''Podcast/RiffTrax'' itself is essentially immune to this trope due to a variation of style, however: they don't release the movies in any form, they merely release tracks of the cast talking ''about'' the movies. Obviously, the original copyright holders don't have any claim over things people choose to say about their films. (There ''are'' some movies available as pre-synced tracks, but they fall into two categories: either films that are public domain [primarily shorts -- one source for them are public domain archives], and B-movies that they can afford to buy the rights to.)
* ''WebVideo/TheFundayPawpetShow'' cited issues with music licensing as one of the reasons for their decision to end the show initially, and was also the reason why they switched over to royalty-free/public domain music when they revived the show in September 2018.
* Website/GaiaOnline's relationship with tektek.org: It's more like ExecutiveMeddling (as this apparently happened post new management), many users think of the site Tektek.org being taken down to be a result of this, as Gaia execs sent a C&D letter to the user, Tekton (the creator), despite the website having existed for as about as long as Gaia did and even having an ApprovalOfGod (the [=FAQs=] even and possibly still having a link to the website). According to what's been heard, the reason for the C&D was because of banner ads (one of which was an ad to Tekton's site, "recolor.me").
* In February 2018, Website/{{Google}} removed the "View Image" button (which links directly to the image) from its Image Search results as part of a new licensing agreement with Getty Images, arguing that the feature helped to induce copyright infringement by users. However, the right-click menu still works and allows direct linking and downloading of the images, thus allowing users to still indulge in said copyright infringement.

* ''WebVideo/{{Jontron}}'' has mocked Creator/{{Disney}} for this a few times by depicting them as having an itchy trigger finger for delivering copyright strikes and an almost supernatural ability to deliver them within ''moments'' of the infringement. Not too far from the truth, actually. In his ''Disney Bootlegs'' episode it takes only a few minutes of talking to [[Franchise/TheLionKing Bootleg Mufasa and Zazu]] before Bootleg Jacques delivers a Cease & Desist ''written on a scroll in Disney font''. This segues into the meat of the episode as he explains UsefulNotes/{{China}} is a rich source of bootlegged Disney content as they're outside U.S. jurisdiction.
* [=MisterDavie=], a [=YouTube=]-based animator who did the infamous "WebAnimation/SmileHD" music video and the animated adaptation of ''Fanfic/CupcakesSergeantSprinkles'', had his works temporarily taken down. This was seen as a ''good'' thing by some of the MLP fandom who wasn't keen on his depiction of Pinkie Pie as a mass murderer.
* ''VideoGame/MoshiMonsters'' had to take down its character Lady Goo Goo and her music video "The Moshi Dance" and scrap the next planned music video "Peppy-razzi" after Lady Gaga's lawyers won a lawsuit against them claiming people would get confused and think the character was endorsed by her.
* WebVideo/TheMysteriousMrEnter was temporarily banned from [=YouTube=] in January 2015 due to a copyright claim by either Paramount or [[Creator/TwentiethCenturyStudios 20th Century Fox]]. He was posting reviews of shows and they were under fair use, but those companies bypassed the fair use disclaimer and shut down his account. He then filed a dispute and two weeks later, his channel went back up.

* Some flashes on Website/{{Newgrounds}} are victims of this due to being based on copyrighted works, as Newgrounds has received [[http://www.newgrounds.com/lit/legal.html cease-and-detest letters]] from companies such as Creator/TheBBC (for a ''Series/{{Teletubbies}}'' spoof called "Teletubby Fun Land", which has been eventually renamed to "Tele''bubby'' Fun Land"), [[Creator/JimHenson The Jim Henson Company]] (for a VideoGame/{{Pico}} game parodying ''Series/BearInTheBigBlueHouse''), and Creator/{{M|etroGoldwynMayer}}GM (for a ''Franchise/RoboCop'' flash tribute made by a fan).

* WebVideo/{{Saberspark}}:
** Due to [[VideoReviewShow the nature of his content]], his channel has been repeatedly plagued by copyright claims and video takedowns, like his reaction video to ''[[WesternAnimation/AnimalKingdomLetsGoApe Animal Kingdom: Let's Go Ape]]'', and his reviews of ''WesternAnimation/RonalTheBarbarian'', ''WesternAnimation/StrawinskyAndTheMysteriousHouse'', and ''WebAnimation/{{Wolfoo}}'', have all been removed from his channel.
** His review of the ''WesternAnimation/{{Balto}}'' trilogy was constantly hit by copyright strikes, delaying it for several weeks until [[SavedFromDevelopmentHell it was finally released on May 13, 2023.]]

* ''WebVideo/SuperMarioLogan'':
** In February 2021, Logan received a cease-and-desist letter from Nintendo, demanding that he stop using Nintendo characters in family-unfriendly situations. On February 13, 2021, after days of speculation by the fanbase over whether the letter was genuine or a fake sent by a disgruntled fan or Chilly, Logan confirmed that the letter did indeed come from Nintendo, who were fed-up with Logan putting their characters in family-unfriendly situations, going as far as to accuse Logan of using them to promote hate speech. Because of this, the Nintendo plushes could no longer be legally used and Logan was forced to wipe all traces of Nintendo and their characters from the SML brand, leaving only the older videos. This was taken further in March 2021, when a leaked chat between a fan and Logan on Instagram had him reveal that Nintendo also wanted all of Logan's channels taken down due to the older videos and their custom [=URL=]s, which can't be changed once they're set, still having Mario references in them. Following this, Logan moved activity once again and began remaking some of the older videos on a 4th SML channel. Furthermore, because the Mario and Rosalina puppets still look suspiciously like the characters whose plushes they replaced, Logan had to rename them "Marvin" and "Rose", while Black Yoshi has reportedly been renamed "Duggie" (some fans have suggested Toad be renamed to "Todd"). Not only that, Logan might retire in the future.
** These changes has also begun to affect the non-Nintendo characters, as the Blue M&M[='=]s Officer also received a human counterpart for "The Mustache Problem" (though this puppet was well-received due to not falling into the UnintentionalUncannyValley). The most-likely explanation is that Logan has become paranoid that other companies could come after him for using their characters in adult situations or for profit.
* Creator/TeamFourStar has a very interesting love-hate relationship with this trope and ''especially'' with Toei Animation. At least once a year, Toei will take down various episodes of ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'' off of [=YouTube=], which the team ends up having to fight to put back up (they can't do anything about the videos on their own site). There are rumors that Toei told Funimation to replace a portion from ''Anime/DragonBallZKai: The Final Chapters'' that was dubbed by TFS with the original dub audio and they've apparently been "graylisted" and can't actively work with Funimation for a while because of Toei, as Nick Landis revealed in a livestream. All this strikes contributed to TFS cancelling their plans for the Majin Buu Saga after Season 3 has been concluded.
* ''WebVideo/ThatDudeInTheSuede'' has had a long history of wrestling with Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions in regards to his ''Pokemon'' anime reviews, but what ultimately killed his channel was a particularly devious method of this trope on [=ShoPro's=] part. This time, not only did they copyright claim his videos, but they ''also'' formally charged him with "property theft" in Japanese court, demanding 80,000 yen (roughly 600 US dollars) in damages. As Suede himself stated, this effectively left him in a no win scenario; if he lawyered up and fought the charges, the resulting legal battle would financially ruin him, and if he did nothing, not only would his channel be deleted, but Japanese companies would now have legal precedence to use monetary compensation demands to have online videos and even entire channels that use their content removed.

* In March 2023, WebVideo/TheUnluckyTug's side-channels where he posted full episodes of the French and Japanese dubs of ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends'' were taken down by Mattel. Unfortunately, this affected all of his [=YouTube=] accounts on the same email, so his main channel was terminated and he had to make a new one.