In a viral exposé, popular YouTuber Mohak alleged that ANI, one of India’s leading news agencies, is operating an “extortion racket” by exploiting YouTube’s copyright strike system. Mohak claimed that ANI issued multiple strikes on his videos for using a few seconds of footage under what he describes as “fair use.” According to YouTube policy, three copyright strikes can lead to permanent deletion of a channel.
Mohak claims ANI first issued a strike on a video containing 11 seconds of footage in a 16-minute video and soon followed with a second one. He says he was then approached by an ANI representative demanding Rs. 45 lakh to resolve the issue. If unpaid, the representative allegedly threatened that six more strikes would follow, leading to the deletion of his channel.
In a dramatic recounting of events, Mohak described the ANI employee allegedly saying: “You’ve only received two strikes now. Wait, you’ll get six more. We’ve filed a total of eight. Once your channel is deleted, you’ll beg to negotiate.”
A Creator Community Rattled
The reaction among the creator community has been swift and widespread. Nitish Rajput, a creator with millions of followers, posted publicly: “YouTube should take steps to make sure creators don’t end up feeling helpless after putting in years of hard work,” a sentiment that quickly garnered over 13,000 likes.
Another major voice, Dhruv Rathee, weighed in with even stronger language: “Full support to you. It seems like ANI is running an extortion racket. All creators need to unite against this.”
Several creators Mohak spoke to allegedly admitted to having paid ANI upwards of Rs. 18 to 50 lakh to remove copyright strikes. The ANI employee, in alleged phone calls shared in part by Mohak, can be heard offering to waive penalties in exchange for multi-lakh subscriptions to ANI’s video licensing service.
Policy, Power, and the Battle for Fair Use
The crux of the issue lies in the interpretation of “fair use,” a provision under copyright law that allows limited use of copyrighted content for commentary, critique, or reporting. Mohak contends that his use of the footage was clearly within fair use boundaries.
However, ANI allegedly ignored YouTube’s revenue-sharing or content claim tools and instead opted for copyright strikes, a far more punitive option. Once a video is struck, creators lose monetization and risk losing their platform altogether. Mohak claims ANI is using this to pressure creators into paying huge sums labeled as “penalties” or “subscriptions.”
He further stated that ANI refused to accept smaller payments or revenue-sharing arrangements, insisting instead on lump-sum transactions. One alleged email from ANI demanded Rs. 45 lakh plus GST for a one-year license and strike removal, stating clearly that failure to pay would result in channel deletion.
A Plea for Government Intervention
In a final appeal, Mohak claimed to have written to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, demanding an investigation into ANI’s practices. He urged other creators to compile and submit evidence of similar experiences.
“This isn’t just about me,” he said. “It’s about whether creators in India will be hostage to extortion or protected by law.”
The issue, now widely discussed across social platforms, has thrown light on a digital gray zone where alleged misuse of copyright law could potentially erase years of creative effort overnight. As public pressure mounts, the ball is now in the court of policymakers, platform operators, and judicial regulators to draw the line between enforcement and exploitation.