Q: How to protect my work after a manager removed my videos from my channel?

A: You likely retain copyright ownership of your videos despite the absence of a formal written contract. Copyright protection attaches automatically to original creative works once fixed in tangible form, giving you exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and display your content. Your verbal agreement may constitute an implied contract, but its terms could be subject to interpretation regarding licensing and usage rights granted to the manager.

Documentation is your immediate priority. Preserve all communications with the manager that demonstrate your agreement and subsequent dispute, including emails, text messages, and witnesses to verbal conversations. Secure any remaining content by downloading backup copies and revoking the manager's access credentials to your channel if possible. Taking screenshots of your channel before and after removals will help document the interference.

Sending a cease and desist letter through legal counsel might be an appropriate next step, asserting your copyright ownership and demanding restoration of removed content. If the situation remains unresolved, you may consider filing a DMCA takedown notice if your videos appear elsewhere, or pursuing a breach of implied contract claim to recover damages for lost exposure and income. For future collaborations, implementing written agreements that clearly delineate ownership rights, compensation terms, and termination procedures will protect your creative assets.