A number of content creators are reporting that they’ve been hit with copyright notices from YouTube, allegedly filed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), even though some of the videos don’t contain any original content from the CBC.

Northern Perspective, a YouTube channel with 127 thousand subscribers, reported that two of their videos have been demonetized following copyright infringement claims by the CBC.

One of these two videos strictly used content from ParlVu, the official streaming service of the House of Commons of Canada, which is open use.

“This one is crazy folks,” said one of the show’s two hosts, Ryan.

The other video does include content originally published by CBC, but the users are arguing that their usage of CBC’s content is in compliance with Canada’s Fair Use laws. “We are very confident we are going to win this,” Ryan said. 

Another YouTuber, The Pleb Reporter, stated that he has also been struck with copyright infringement claims by the CBC.

A few Conservative politicians have commented on the development, such as MP Michelle Rempel Garner, claiming that the CBC is using taxpayer money to “attack Canadian creators.” 

The CBC responded to The Counter Signal’s request for comment, indicating they are “looking into” the matter, but require more time before providing a fulsome response.

CBC on the brink

With Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre promising to defund the CBC, the network has been under the spotlight in recent months, with Canadians regularly calling out their bias and false reporting.

Last month, the CBC repeated the false claim that Indigenous bodies have been discovered at the former sites of residential schools in Canada. And, an economics professor interviewed by the CBC said the network tried to get him to defend the Liberals and cut him off when he refused.

The CBC has also come under scrutiny after it was revealed that the public broadcaster paid out $18.4 million in bonuses during the 2023-24 fiscal year, even as it eliminated hundreds of jobs.