YouTuber Mohak Accuses ANI of Running ‘Extortion Racket’ Through YouTube Copyright Strikes

Popular YouTuber Mohak has levelled serious allegations against ANI, claiming the news agency is exploiting YouTube’s copyright strike policy to extort money from creators.

The controversy erupted after Mohak posted a detailed video accusing ANI of issuing strikes on his content over a few seconds of footage, which he argues falls under “fair use.”

Copyright Strikes and Financial Demands

According to Mohak, ANI issued the first copyright strike on a 16-minute video that used just 11 seconds of their footage. A second strike followed soon after, targeting another video with a 9-second clip.

As per YouTube’s policy, three strikes can lead to permanent deletion of a channel.

Following the strikes, Mohak said an ANI representative contacted him, demanding Rs. 45 lakh to settle the matter. He alleges the representative warned that six more strikes were lined up.

Quoting the ANI employee, Mohak recounted: “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.”

Community Backlash and Solidarity

The incident has triggered widespread backlash across the creator community. Influential YouTuber Nitish Rajput commented, “YouTube should take steps to make sure creators don’t end up feeling helpless after putting in years of hard work,” receiving over 13,000 likes.

Another creator, Dhruv Rathee, offered unequivocal support, stating, “Full support to you. It seems like ANI is running an extortion racket. All creators need to unite against this.”

Mohak revealed that other creators privately admitted to paying ANI sums ranging from Rs. 18 to 50 lakh to remove strikes.

In phone conversations shared by Mohak, an ANI employee can be heard offering to cancel penalties in exchange for expensive subscriptions to ANI’s licensing service.

Fair Use Versus Copyright Abuse

The heart of the dispute lies in the interpretation of “fair use” — a legal doctrine allowing limited use of copyrighted material for critique, reporting, or commentary. Mohak insists his use of the footage was within these bounds.

Instead of using YouTube’s monetization tools or content ID claims, ANI allegedly issued copyright strikes — a harsher step that disables monetization and threatens the creator’s entire channel.

Mohak claimed that ANI refused to accept revenue-sharing or smaller settlement options, instead demanding a full one-year licensing fee and penalty payment.

He shared an alleged email from ANI stating Rs. 45 lakh plus GST was required to lift the strikes. “If unpaid, the channel would be deleted,” the message allegedly read.

Official Complaints and Evidence

In response, Mohak has reached out to both the Prime Minister’s Office and the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, requesting an investigation into ANI’s actions. He also encouraged other creators to come forward with 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.”

A Pattern of Alleged Misuse

Mohak’s video, nearly 12 minutes long, included call recordings and emails with ANI representatives.

In one recording, an ANI employee allegedly said, “I don’t care whether you used 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or 10 seconds of the footage. You used copyrighted content without permission. I filed a copyright claim. YouTube issued the strike… Your channel is going.”

He stated the first strike came on May 20 for a video about the Kolkata rape case that used 11 seconds of ANI footage. The second strike hit his video on Operation Sindoor, which included a 9-second clip of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

He claimed ANI filed eight strikes, two of which had reached him — a pressure tactic to push for payment.

Other Creators Also Affected

Mohak mentioned that other YouTubers had also been targeted. Some reportedly paid Rs. 15–20 lakh to remove strikes, thereby saving their channels. Those who didn’t pay allegedly lost theirs.

An Emotional Appeal

In the opening of his video, Mohak emotionally recalled his family’s struggles during the 1992 Harshad Mehta scam, which destroyed his father’s stockbroking business.

“In 1992, my father had a stockbroking business. That same year, the Harshad Mehta scam happened and overnight, the business shut down… My father told my mother, ‘Let’s take her to their house — maybe out of mercy they’ll return the money.’ That was our condition. I was born that same year.”

He added that his parents worked tirelessly for three decades so that he would never have to beg. “Now,” he said, “a simple copyright strike could wipe away everything I had built.”

Awaiting Response

As of now, neither ANI nor any government office has responded publicly to the allegations.

The issue continues to draw attention, with many calling for regulatory intervention and clearer policies to protect digital creators from potential abuse of copyright laws.