Hello everyone,

I’m reaching out because my YouTube channel, Ekans Fandom, was unfairly terminated due to multiple copyright strikes issued by Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) India. These strikes were orchestrated by Michael Bentkover, a representative of WBD, who has a history of targeting creators and issuing copyright takedowns without fair consideration.

Despite reaching out multiple times to both WBD and YouTube, my emails have been ignored, rejected, or dismissed without proper justification. The unjust termination of my channel has not only affected me but also other creators, proving that YouTube’s copyright system is being exploited to silence small creators.

 
🚨 What Happened?
On October 20, 2024, my YouTube channel was terminated following copyright strikes from Warner Bros. Discovery India concerning my voiceover videos, which I posted in May 2024.

However, I strongly suspect that this termination was not just about copyright but was a targeted takedown. Here’s why:

• Before termination, my channel saw a strange decline in subscribers, views, and engagement.
• On October 19, 2024, one of my videos was suddenly blocked due to a copyright claim from WBD.
• I disputed the claim, arguing fair use and explaining the transformative nature of my content.
• Shockingly, my channel was terminated the next day—without a proper review period or final warning!
   
  💥 Why This Termination Was Unfair
  1️⃣ My Efforts to Follow Copyright Rules Were Ignored
• I actively transitioned from using copyrighted content to creating original content, but WBD still punished me for past mistakes.
• I reduced the use of copyrighted material, speeding up clips and making them almost unrecognizable.
• I focused on voiceover content, which is typically considered fair use under copyright laws.
• WBD had been monitoring my channel for a long time, waiting for an opportunity to take it down—even though I was improving my content.
   
  2️⃣ WBD and Michael Bentkover Have a History of Targeting Creators
  Warner Bros. Discovery India has been aggressively targeting creators ever since they began uploading Ekans – Snakes Awake! Episodes to their official Discovery Kids YouTube channel. Instead of targeting piracy, they went after content creators who were using their content fairly, such as for education, entertainment, or awareness.

Michael Bentkover, the representative behind these strikes, has been widely reported for issuing excessive and unfair copyright strikes, disregarding fair use or the intent of creators.

• Other YouTubers have also been targeted unfairly, resulting in terminated channels, lost years of effort, and emotional distress.
• WBD strategically goes after past mistakes, striking down videos months after they were posted.
• WBD refuses to communicate, rejecting emails, Instagram messages, and even phone calls.
   
  3️⃣ WBD and YouTube Are Ignoring My Every Attempt to Resolve This
  After my channel was terminated, I immediately took action, but every effort was ignored or rejected:

✅ 8 emails to WBD representatives – NO response
✅ 2 counter-notifications to YouTube – REJECTED
✅ 1 appeal form to YouTube – IGNORED
✅ Multiple tweets & tags to @TeamYouTube & @YouTubeCreators – NO response
✅ A call to a WBD senior official – The call was abruptly disconnected when my name was mentioned
✅ A final dispute giving WBD a 3-day response period – REJECTED

They refuse to engage in dialogue. Instead of helping creators, they silence them completely.

 
💔 The Impact on Me and Other Creators
Losing my channel destroyed years of hard work. It was more than just a channel—it was a community, a passion, and a creative outlet.

• My audience is afraid to subscribe to my new channel, fearing it will also be terminated.
• YouTube’s copyright system is broken, favouring corporations while punishing small creators.
• Young creators, often teenagers, are left vulnerable, forced to either accept termination or take expensive legal action.

 
⚠️ The Bigger Issue: YouTube’s Broken Copyright System
YouTube allows corporations like WBD to abuse the copyright system:

❌ No proper warning before termination
❌ Strikes issued months after videos are posted
❌ Fair use and transformative content ignored
❌ Appeals are automatically rejected
❌ No way to negotiate or replace content to fix mistakes

🔧 YouTube Needs to Fix These Issues!
We demand:

1️⃣ A ‘Replace Clip’ Feature – Just like YouTube has a ‘Replace Song’ feature, creators should be able to swap out or trim problematic clips without losing their entire channel.
2️⃣ Stronger Protections for Fair Use – Copyright claims should require proper human review before termination.
3️⃣ Transparency & Communication – YouTube must provide clear reasons for counter-notification rejections.
4️⃣ End Corporate Abuse of Copyright Strikes – Companies like WBD shouldn’t have unchecked power to silence creators.

 
📢 We Demand Justice – Reinstate My Channel NOW!
We demand that YouTube and WBD:
✅ Immediately review and restore my terminated channel.
✅ Stop unfair targeting of small creators.
✅ Hold Michael Bentkover accountable for excessive strikes.
✅ Fix YouTube’s flawed copyright system.

 
💡 How You Can Help
🔹 Sign this petition to send a message to YouTube & Warner Bros. Discovery!
🔹 Share this petition on Twitter, Reddit, and social media with #YouTubeUnfairStrikes.
🔹 Tag @TeamYouTube, @YouTubeCreators, @warnerbros, @Discovery, and @michaelbentkover to demand action!

Together, we can stand against corporate abuse of copyright laws, raise awareness about YouTube’s flawed system, and fight for fair treatment of content creators!

✊ 📌 SIGN & SHARE NOW!