"Let's just refund him."
I said to my team.
This week, I returned legal fees to a client after a full year of fighting to restore his 7 deleted YouTube channels. I had to admit defeat.
Here's what happened:
My client violated copyright on ONE channel. His smallest one. But because all seven channels shared the same email address, YouTube deleted everything.
10 years of his life's work. Gone.
After a year of working with YouTube executives, here's what I learned:
YouTube's position has changed. They used to help on a case-by-case basis. Not anymore. They no longer step in on copyright strikes or channel deletions.
This isn't rare. I get 3-5 requests weekly from creators with deleted channels.
The brutal truth? Once your channel is deleted, I'm not as effective.
But if you come with 1-2 copyright strikes? Community violations? Demonetization? I can usually reverse those.
Here's What's Keeping Me Up at Night
Most creators don't realize they're one strike away from losing everything. No backup plan. No email list. No direct access to their audience.
That's why I've become obsessed with two things:
1. Clean IP from Day One
Use your own b-roll. License your music properly. Build a clean chain of title. This isn't just about avoiding strikes - it's about being ready for an exit when opportunity knocks. IP trolls are multiplying exponentially.
2. Building on Your Own Land
Your email list. Your community. Your direct relationships. The things no algorithm can take away.
I tell every creator: You need at least 5 revenue streams. Up to 15 if you want a real exit.
But the most important one? A community built on YOUR land.
Walking My Talk
As a YouTuber myself, I try to be my clients' guinea pig.
So I launched The Creator's Attorney Collective last week on Kajabi. Not just because I want direct access to my people, but because I need to walk my talk.
What I'm Learning from Running My Own Community
The creators inside are brilliant. Some are posting their first videos. Others have 4M+ subscribers. But they all share one thing - they're done building on rented land.
We're having real conversations about:
How to reverse strikes before they multiply.
Building clean IP libraries from the start.
The 15 revenue streams that actually matter.
Exit strategies that work.
We had a bonus call last weekend and it was so fun. I LOVE being able to talk to my community directly and not comments on YouTube or DMs on Instagram.
Our first official live call is October 30th. I'll share everything I know about protecting your channel and building your fortress.
Oh and I have 2 annual spots left for a free 30 minute call with me.
If you want to join us, amazing, I would be so stoked to have you.
But honestly?
Even if you don't join, please just start that email list. Please back up your content. Please protect what you've built.
Your channel can disappear tomorrow.
Your community can't.
Build accordingly.
And yes, I will be writing off five figures of additional work for this client as pro-bono. I haven't even told him about the additional amount because honestly, I feel like I failed him.
With love and urgency, Tyler
Content is King. IP is Queen. Own the board.