Social networking service Twitter suspended the accounts of websites Deadspin and SB Nation on Monday evening after American football league the NFL filed notices relating to their use of copyrighted video highlights.
The NFL, which holds a commercial partnership with Twitter, told the Associated Press news agency that it requested the company “disable links to more than a dozen pirated NFL game videos and highlights that violate the NFL's copyright,” adding that it did not request that any Twitter accounts be disabled.
Gawker social media strategist Terron Moore said on his Twitter account that the NFL sent 18 Digital Millennium Copyright Act notices regarding the Gawker-owned Deadspin account. Both suspended accounts regularly use GIFs of highlights from sporting events, including NFL games.
The main Deadspin account was down for around an hour before being re-activated, while the @SBNationGIF account was still suspended at the time of writing.
In August, the NFL signed a new multi-year partnership with Twitter to deliver daily uniquely packaged official league video and other types of content to fans on a year-round basis.
The agreement followed a deal struck in September 2013, when the NFL was among the early partners on Twitter Amplify, showing extra footage on certain game days, after games and during the off-season.
NFL and Twitter said the new partnership would offer brands the opportunity to present official NFL content created specifically for the Twitter platform, on PCs, tablets, and mobile devices.
Twitter users have access to significantly more official NFL content than in the past, including in-game highlights from the 2015 season through to Super Bowl 50 on February 7, as well as unique programming like breaking news and analysis, best plays, custom game recaps, infographics, behind-the-scenes content, and relevant archival video.