How to Fix an Instagram Copyright Issue

Receiving that dreaded notification from Instagram - Your video has been removed due to a copyright claim - can bring your creative momentum to a screeching halt. It's frustrating, confusing, and can feel like a direct hit on your hard work. The good news is that it’s usually fixable. This guide will walk you through exactly what a copyright claim means, what your options are for resolving it, and most importantly, how to set up your content strategy to avoid these issues in the future.

What Exactly Is an Instagram Copyright Claim?

In simplest terms, copyright is the legal right creators have over their original work. This includes music, photos, videos, graphic designs, and written text. When you see the © symbol, that’s what it represents. Because Instagram operates in a legal world, it must respect these rights under laws like the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

An Instagram copyright claim is a formal notice that your post contains material that belongs to someone else, and you may not have the rights to use it. This is usually triggered automatically by Instagram's content identification system or manually by the copyright holder themselves.

Common Reasons You Might Get a Copyright Claim

Most copyright issues aren't due to malicious intent, they're often simple mistakes. Here are the most common triggers:

• Using Commercial Music: This is the number one cause. If you add a popular song from a famous artist to your video edit outside of Instagram’s official music library (i.e., you edit it in another app and upload it with the music embedded), proprietary systems will likely flag it instantly. You don't own a license to use that track commercially or publicly.
• Reposting Content Without Permission: Sharing another user’s photo, Reel, or graphic on your feed without their explicit permission is copyright infringement, even if you tag them. A tag is a citation, not a license.
• Using Video or Film Clips: Incorporating clips from movies, TV shows, or even another creator’s YouTube video can trigger a claim from the studio or individual who owns that footage.
• Displaying Branded Logos or Images: Using protected logos, artwork, or character images in your graphics without authorization can also lead to a claim.

Your Immediate Plan: What to Do When You Get a Notification

First, don't panic or delete everything immediately. A single copyright claim is not the end of your account. Take a calm, measured approach to understand what’s happening.

The notification itself contains all the initial information you need. Open it and look for three key pieces of information:

1. What content was flagged? The notice will specify if it was the audio, a visual component, or the entire video.
2. Who filed the claim? It will name the company or individual who claims to own the copyrighted material. This could be a major music label like Sony Music Entertainment or an independent artist.
3. What action was taken? Your content might be muted (audio removed), blocked in certain countries, or removed entirely. In some cases, the copyright holder may choose to run ads on your video and collect the revenue instead of taking it down.

Once you understand these points, you can decide which path to take. Instagram will present you with options directly in the notification, which usually fall into three main categories.

How to Fix It: Your 3 Options for Resolving the Claim

You have a few ways to proceed once a copyright flag is raised. The right choice depends on whether the claim is valid and how important the piece of content is to you.

Option 1: Agree with the Claim and Move On

This is the simplest and most common resolution. If you know you used a popular song you downloaded or grabbed a video clip from somewhere else, the claim is almost certainly valid.

When this is your best move:

• You knowingly used copyrighted material without a license.
• The flagged material isn't essential to your post (e.g., you can easily replace the background music).
• You don't have the time or legal basis to fight the claim.

How to do it:

The notification will typically offer an "Agree with Changes" or "Remove Video" option. If the audio was muted, you can often accept this and the video will be restored without sound. Otherwise, you can simply delete the post yourself. Taking account of the feedback helps keep your account in good standing.

Option 2: Dispute the Claim with a Counter-Notification

If you genuinely believe the copyright claim is incorrect, you have the right to appeal it. An appeal, also known as a counter-notification, tells Instagram and the claimant that you have a valid reason to use the content.

When this is your best move:

• You Have a License: You paid for a license to use the song or video clip from a service like Artlist, Epidemic Sound, or a stock footage library.
• The Content is in the Public Domain: The copyright for the material has expired, making it free for public use (e.g., Beethoven's music, very old films, classical art).
• You Are the Original Creator: The content is 100% yours, and the claim is a mistake, which can sometimes happen with automated systems.
• Your Use Qualifies as "Fair Use": This is a complex legal doctrine that permits limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes like commentary, criticism, parody, or news reporting. Be cautious with this one. Simply adding a short clip to your video doesn’t automatically make it fair use. It’s a nuanced defense that is often misunderstood.

How to file a dispute step-by-step:

1. Find the Notification: Go to the copyright notification in your "Support Inbox" (Settings >, Help >, Support Requests >, Violations).
2. Select "Dispute": The option to appeal should be clearly visible within the details of the claim.
3. State Your Reason: Instagram will prompt you to choose why you believe the claim is invalid. Select the option that best fits your situation (e.g., "I have a license for this content").
4. Provide a Brief Explanation: In your own words, clearly and concisely explain your right to use the content. If you have a license, state that. For example: "The audio track 'Sunrise Chimes' was legally licensed for social media use from [Name of Service] on [Date]. I can provide the license agreement upon request."
5. Submit Your Appeal: Check the box to agree to the terms and submit your dispute.

After you submit the appeal, the copyright holder is notified. They generally have 10-14 days to either drop the claim or provide proof that they are taking legal action against you (which is extremely rare for social media posts). If they do nothing, the claim is typically released, and your content is restored.

Option 3: Get in Contact with the Copyright Owner

At times, getting in contact with the copyright owner is an easier and quicker option than going through Instagram's dispute mechanism. You can find contact information within the Copyright Claim notification itself.

Here's how to contact them:

1. Navigate back to the violation's screen and there, you should be able to find a "contact" link.
2. Select it, and Instagram sends an email to the Reporter with your email address.
3. From here, we advise that you speak directly with the reporting party through email to settle how to take things forward from there. Instagram will not be there to mediate this communication.
4. Note, this is only applicable to certain copyright violations.

The Best Strategy: How to Avoid Copyright Issues in the First Place

Resolving copyright claims is a reactive process. The best long-term strategy is to be proactive and build a content workflow that minimizes your risk from the start. Here’s how.

For Music and Audio:

• Use Instagram’s Official Music Library: When creating Reels or Stories, use the music sticker to add songs. Instagram has licensing agreements with major labels that allow you to use these tracks in your content on their platform only. This is the safest and easiest way to use popular music.
• Subscribe to a Royalty-Free Music Service: For creating videos outside of the Instagram app, services like Epidemic Sound, Artlist, and Soundstripe are worth their weight in gold. You pay a subscription fee for access to a massive library of high-quality music and sound effects that are fully licensed for use on social media, YouTube, and more.
• Use Public Domain Music: Websites like the Musopen or the Free Music Archive offer music where the copyright has expired or has been volunteered for public use.
• Create Your Own Audio: Recording your own voiceovers, sounds, or music is a guaranteed way to avoid copyright claims.

For Photos and Videos:

• Create Your Own Visuals: The number one rule of social media marketing is to create original content. Not only is it unique to your brand, but it's also 100% yours.
• Use Royalty-Free Stock Photo and Video Sites: When you need supplementary visuals, websites like Pexels, Unsplash, and Pixabay offer free photos and videos cleared for commercial use. For higher-quality or more specific needs, paid sites like Adobe Stock, Getty Images, and Shutterstock are great options. Always check the license to make sure it covers your intended use.
• Always Give Credit: Properly crediting your sources is an essential part of maintaining a lawful presence online. Diligently citing your sources helps prevent future copyright issues.
• Master User-Generated Content (UGC) with Permission: Reposting your customers' content is a fantastic social proof strategy, but you need permission first. Don’t just screenshot and post with a tag. Send them a direct message asking, "We love your photo! Would you mind if we shared it on our feed? We'll be sure to credit you." Save that "yes" as proof. It’s polite, professional, and legally sound.

Final Thoughts

Dealing with an Instagram copyright claim is stressful, but it's a manageable part of being a modern content creator or marketer. By understanding your options - agreeing, appealing, or removing - and being proactive about sourcing and creating content, you can protect your account and focus on what you do best: building your brand.

As you scale your content creation, staying organized becomes more and more important. We know that your time is better spent creating impactful content rather than chasing down asset licenses or getting caught off-guard. That’s why we built Postbase with a clean, visual content calendar to help you plan your strategy effectively. By scheduling content in advance, you have a clear view of what’s going live and when, creating a workflow that helps you double-check your sources and build your brand on a foundation of confidence.