ZDT NIGHTSHIFT 7 LAWYER CAKE, TRYHARDS, YELLOW BRICK CHAT [ZeroDarkTony] / September 7, 2026 / YouTube / upgg-ptlKds
During a September 7, 2026 livestream, Anthony R. D’Amato, Jr., known online as ZeroDarkTony, threatened to issue additional copyright strikes against critics who use his content, warning that channel termination would not shield creators from legal process.
The remarks came during a broader discussion about critics, ongoing disputes, and active litigation involving individuals D’Amato frequently targets on his channel.
Contradictory Statements on Copyright Enforcement
At one point in the stream, D’Amato denied attempting to shut down competing channels through copyright enforcement. “I’m not trying to shut down any channels with copyright strikes,” he stated.
Moments later, however, he indicated that additional strikes remained entirely within his discretion, adding, “They’re going to keep coming whenever I want them to.”
D’Amato then warned that channel termination would not prevent ongoing legal exposure, stating, “Just because a channel gets terminated doesn’t mean it can’t be subpoenaed, FYI.”
The comments culminated in a direct threat of continued copyright enforcement against channels using his material:
“Don’t use my content to malign me or paint me in a false light. I warned you. And now I’m just going to bury you in copyright strikes. Because I can. That’s why.”
Although D’Amato did not identify specific channels during this portion of the stream, HERO / NOT / ZERO is a documented target of his copyright complaints. As of publication, that channel has received three separate copyright strikes submitted by D’Amato.
The sequence of statements is notable because D’Amato framed the strikes not primarily as a response to unauthorized copying, but as a retaliatory measure against critics using his content in ways he believes misrepresent him.
Exhibit A
D’Amato tells his audience that misuse of his content carries consequences, saying: “don’t use my content to malign me or paint me in a false light. I warned you. And now I’m just going to bury you in copyright strikes. Because I can. That’s why.” Earlier in the same discussion, he states that additional strikes will continue “whenever I want them to” and warns that terminated channels may still be subpoenaed.
Timestamps: 01:05:27 – 01:07:29 | Open clip in new tab
The clip captures D’Amato explicitly framing copyright strikes as punishment for content use he objects to, then pairing that threat with a reference to subpoena power. He characterizes the strikes as discretionary and retaliatory: “because I can.”
Broader Context and Commentary on Litigation
The copyright discussion occurred within a livestream largely devoted to D’Amato’s commentary on a federal lawsuit involving an individual he identified as Scott.
During the stream, D’Amato repeatedly mocked Scott and speculated about the legal costs associated with the litigation. He claimed that seven attorneys were involved in the matter and estimated that Scott was already facing six-figure legal costs.
“He is already six figures in,” D’Amato said, later expanding that estimate: “He is anywhere between $200,000 and $700,000.”
D’Amato suggested that Scott expected a quick settlement and had badly miscalculated the consequences of pursuing the case. Throughout the discussion, D’Amato used derogatory terms to describe Scott and expressed satisfaction with his perceived legal difficulties:
- “Fight it, bro, because you may as well. Six figures, seven figures. What’s the difference to you?”
- “You’re an irresponsible piece of human garbage.”
- “Getting everything you deserve.”
Elsewhere in the stream, D’Amato broadened his commentary to include critics generally, stating, “I’m enjoying their downfalls.” He characterized the consequences facing his critics as inevitable, adding, “This is what happens to people who are shitty… There will just come a day when you will experience the deepest of regrets for your actions.”
Taken together, these statements provide direct context for the later copyright threats. The warning to “bury” critics in copyright claims was delivered amid repeated commentary celebrating the setbacks and financial difficulties of people D’Amato regards as adversaries.
Fair Use and Protected Criticism
D’Amato’s comments highlight a fundamental tension with established copyright law. The uses he objects to are not simple duplications or piracy; he specifically targets critics who use clips of his content to analyze, criticize, or “paint [him] in a false light.”
Copyright law does not grant creators a veto over public commentary. The fair-use doctrine exists precisely to protect commentary, criticism, news reporting, and public discussion. Congress expressly identified criticism and comment among the core purposes protected by fair use.
Channels like HERO / NOT / ZERO do not republish D’Amato’s content as a market substitute for his channel. Instead, the clips serve as evidence accompanied by analysis, commentary, and reporting on matters of public concern. This usage is transformative: the original livestreams function as entertainment and advocacy broadcasts, while the resulting critical videos analyze and document D’Amato’s own public statements.
Courts have repeatedly recognized that using copyrighted material as the subject of criticism is fundamentally different from merely redistributing that material. When D’Amato states that he intends to “bury” critics in copyright strikes “because I can,” he describes an enforcement strategy based on the message being conveyed rather than the act of copying itself.
Sources
- Original YouTube Video
- Full SRT Transcript
- Full Text Transcript
- Full Chat Transcript
- Date: 2026-09-07
- Stream ID: YOUTUBE · upgg-ptlKds