Innovation Cafe started as a YouTube channel. I was truly shocked when the channel (the one that was the original host for nearly all of the video content on this site) was terminated — permanently. According to a declaration filed by YouTube in another case, this penalty is reserved (according to testimony provided by YouTube under penalty of perjury) for channels that accrue three Community Guidelines strikes in 90 days (Innovation Cafe had no strikes, ever), has a single case of severe abuse (such as predatory behavior), or is determined to be wholly dedicated to violating their guidelines. None of these were true, but according to the Complaint as filed, YouTube’s automated systems could not tell the difference between an academic lecture and pornography — and appeals to humans for good faith review by YouTube appeared to be impossible. The story is in the complaint.
The litigation documents are reproduced below. The first block lets you download the pdf of the Complaint. It is embedded below as well.