"You may be subject to enforcement" - Twitch warns streamers about livestreaming DJ content without authorization

On June 6, 2024, Twitch announced the launch of their brand new DJ Program that would enable streamers to broadcast the "vast majority of popular music" in their DJ Category. In the announcement, Twitch also revealed that they have had major tie-ups with some big-name labels and companies across the music industry.

There has been a major update regarding this. An official X user (@zachbussey) shared a 'warning' sent by Twitch (to an unnamed streamer) regarding the usage of DJ Content. According to the post, the streamer who broadcasts under this category will have to register in Twitch's DJ Program. The message read:

"Your account was detected by our systems as having streamed DJ content using music represented by music rights holders in the Twitch Music DJ Catalog while not enrolled in the Twitch DJ Program."

The message also read that failure to sign up for the program would potentially lead to DMCA strikes or suspensions:

"If you use music without authorization from the rights holders or without enrolling in the Twitch DJ Program, you may be subject to enforcement, including strikes and/or account suspensions, starting September 1st (2024)."

Twitch streamers have to sign up for DJ Program to stream DJ Content (Image via X/@zachbussey)

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Fans react to Twitch seemingly 'warning' creators who stream DJ content

Twitch has seemingly issued a warning-like statement to an unnamed streamer for streaming DJ Content without enrolling in their DJ Program that was launched earlier this year. According to the statement, creators must do the needful by September 1, 2024.

This X post was later shared to the popular livestreaming subreddit r/LivestreamFail, which garnered a slew of comments from Reddit users. Here are some of the notable ones:

"If split audio doesn't work we'll see tons of people getting hit with the 24-hour ban hammer. And will streamers have to nuke their VODs/clips once again?" said u/Diidoompdomp.

One user also suggested that Twitch might start to enforce "live DMCA takedowns." They wrote:

"Well we've all been warned that 'live DMCA takedowns' are coming. Youtube already does it, I've had my livestream on there just straight shut down until the copyrighted content stops playing," said u/Hupsaiya.

Another user wrote, in favor of Twitch:

"I absolutely can’t understand why people would endanger their channel and content to play music for which they don’t own the rights or are unlicensed to play," said u/killadrix.

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Dan Clancy, Twitch's CEO, has also commented on the situation via his official X account. He claimed that the potential DMCA strikes will not affect non-DJ streamers for using sounds such as background music.