Patrick

This is my THIRD copyright claim on Twitch this month from MarkScan. This for whatever reason (despite counter claiming all other claims and having them removed) automatically bans my channel for 48 hours. I am beyond frustrated. I am angry, exhausted, and tired of having the hard work, livelihood, and community repeatedly disrupted while I am left fighting for answers. If you don’t know me. I am Psyculturists, a Mental Health Expert and my streams focus on psychoeducation, psychological analysis, and ongoing commentary of anime, video games, and everything else. We regularly spend HOURS discussing material because we pause to examine characters, relationships, trauma, behavior, and psychological theories. I put substantial time and effort into these discussions, and I expect that context to receive meaningful consideration when a copyright complaint is reviewed. Recently, I have also noticed a rise of suspicious messages taunting me after counter claiming the strike during live broadcasts. The messages are followed shortly afterward by another copyright takedown by the same individuals and the timing raises serious concerns. I also want clear answers about MarkScan. If they are acting on behalf of Crunchyroll/Viz Media/Kadokawa, how has that authorization been verified? What specific rights and material does it cover? How are the commentary, criticism, educational purpose, and potential fair use of my content being considered? How can they have jurisdiction over any other country than the one they operate in which is India. These are basic questions when a claim can jeopardize someone’s channel and livelihood. I have countered all previous claims, and, in my experience, MarkScan has not pursued them further. Usually Twitch takes off the copyright strike after verifying that it seems to be a Scam company. Yet here I am dealing with another strike, another disruption, and another round of defending work I have spent years building. This pattern is abusive, and I am tired of being expected to quietly absorb the consequences. A stream gets interrupted, viewers are confused and the community is affected. The possibility of losing a channel hangs over everything. Meanwhile, us as creators are expected to document everything, navigate the dispute process, and somehow keep working afterwards as though this is a minor inconvenience. IT IS NOT A MINOR INCONVENIENCE. And there is another issue that deserves far more attention: OUR PRIVACY. When I challenge these claims through the counter notification process, I am asked to provide a lot of sensitive personal information, including my legal name, address, and telephone number, which can be forwarded to the claimant. Think about what that means for someone who already believes they are being targeted or harassed. Defending my livelihood should not leave me worried about who will receive my personal information or how they might use it. The potential for harassment, doxxing, or unwanted contact makes this process even more stressful. Where is the equivalent transparency for creators? What information about the claimant and their authorization can we actually verify? What safeguards exist to stop someone from exploiting copyright complaints to obtain personal information? A company name attached to a claim does not resolve those concerns. I want to know that the party receiving my information has been meaningfully verified and that reports of potential abuse will be taken seriously. Twitch, YouTube, and other platforms: what happens when a creator repeatedly disputes claims from the same entity? Does anyone investigate the pattern? What accountability exists for misuse? How do creators raise privacy and safety concerns without getting trapped in another cycle of automated responses? I understand that platforms have copyright obligations. I expect them to take those obligations seriously, alongside the consequences their processes have for the people who rely on them. That includes meaningful consideration of fair use, verification of a claimant’s authority, clear explanations, and safeguards against abuse. “Submit a counter notification” does not adequately address someone’s concern that the process could expose them to further targeting. Creators need a way to defend their work while having their safety concerns heard and addressed. I am furious that I have to keep spending time defending access to my own channel. That time should be going toward my work and my community. Instead, it is being spent dealing with repeated claims, uncertainty, and the fear of what another strike could mean. Sorry y’all just frustrated venting.