Are you a YouTube creator? Do you want to avoid being served a notice claiming copyright for a video uploaded on your channel?
If you are a YouTuber who intends to spend energy creating high-quality content and not be compelled to look into its legality, then this article is for you.
Through the blog, we aim to try to explain to you in layman's terms all the YouTube copyright rules.
Furthermore, we intend through this article to give you a general overview of copyright issues you may face while uploading content on your YouTube channel.
Moreover, you must note that we are not giving official legal advice; for that, you need to seek a lawyer. Instead, here is presenting this comprehensive blog highlighting the basic copyright rules followed by YouTube.
The first rule of YouTube copyright
YouTube creators must firstly be aware that it is only video content they have made or have the authority to use that you can upload on the platform.
It only means that someone else's creation you cannot upload. The content involved with regards to copyright could be music tracks, snippets of copyrighted programmes, or videos made by others having no authorisation whatsoever.
It is also essential for creators to know that a YouTube Rights Management Policy possesses a copyright detection system comprising advanced automated algorithms, also known as 'Content ID'.
So, creators should understand the basic YouTube copyright rule before uploading a video to avoid regretting the decision after it downloads.
Fair Use YouTube
In its essence, Fair Use is a law followed in the United States of America which allows the reuse of copyright video content under exceptional circumstances.
That too without gaining permission from the copyright owner. Moreover, Fair Use is applied on a case-by-case basis. Different countries have different rules when it comes to using copyright content without taking permission.
In the United States, items such as commentary, research work, teaching, or news reporting can be considered under the Fair use law, but it may eventually depend on the situation.
The excellent aspect of the YouTube platform is that they have created a YouTube library to specifically enable creators to reuse content properly without affecting the overall quality.
How can right holders make copyright claims?
Creators also need to know that YouTube has a few Copyright Management Tools so they can use them when needed. They are:
A. Copyright Match Tool:
It is a device that automatically helps you, a YouTube creator, to detect videos that are perfect or potential matches of your content, thereby enabling you to review it in YouTube Studio and take the proper steps.
The Copyright Match Tool is an application made available to any YouTube user who has applied and submitted a valid copyright takedown request.
On official approval, this tool will start scanning YouTube uploads for potential matches to the one given in the report so that the individual can decide on the next steps that need to be taken.
For partners in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), this tool will scan only for re-uploads of your videos on other YouTube channels.
B. Content ID:
Yet another effective Copyright Management tool YouTube provides is Content ID. This application helps you as a creator identify and manage your content easily.
It helps scan YouTube uploaded videos using a database submitted by copyright owners. This system allows copyright owners such as yourself to take Action against videos matching your content through the following ways:
- Block: A whole video is obstructed from being streamed.
- Monetization: Monetize the video that matches your content and sometimes even share the revenue with the uploader.
- Tracking: Helps you track video statistics. Only once the match is found does the video get tagged with what is called Content ID Claim.
After which, one from among the three actions mentioned above is taken. But, more importantly, a Content-ID is given to copyright owners who meet specific criteria.
c. Webform:
Webform is the best and the simplest way to eliminate unauthorised copies of copyrighted content. This process involves the use of submitting a copyright notification through DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act).
This device is open for anyone and is best for most users. More importantly, it is available in every language.
YouTube's Action against copyright infringement?
Once you, as a content creator, submit a valid DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) complaint through the YouTube webform, the platform immediately takes down the video.
Then, it applies what is known as a 'Copyright Strike'. If a user 90 days gets a copyright strike, then the account and any associated channels will be terminated.
In addition, YouTube also provides you, the creator, with tools to resolve copyright strikes, including waiting for it to expire within 90 days, requesting a retraction, or submitting a counter-notification.
Another way provided by YouTube to deal with copyright infringement is known as Content ID.
Attribution does not absolve a copyright violation
Infringement means when an individual steals another individual's work and claims it to be their own.
It is, however, an offence also when you add lines such as "Created by so‐and‐so,"
"No copyright infringement intended," or "All rights belong to their respective owners."
to your work. Furthermore, it means attributing to the source is still a breach of copyright and can earn a strike and block of the video from YouTube.
So, in simple words, attribution is not a factor that can absolve you from being deemed a criminal by gaining the required permission. Therefore, to use another individual's work on YouTube, you better be prepared to take consent.
Get permission to use copyrighted material
If you intend to use copyrighted material for your YouTube channel, the best way to avoid copyright infringement is to take permission from the original creator.
You can do this via a well-written note explaining how you intend to use the content. However, while doing so, you should remember that there is the possibility that you may not get permission to monetise the whole video.
This restriction could hurt you if you want to be a YouTube channel owner full-time. Moreover, it could be the perfect solution if you want to add flavour to a video.
Overall, it is always good to take permission to use copyrighted material to avoid unwarranted violation charges.
YouTube Strikeouts
All YouTube creators must note that you might advertently or inadvertently use someone else's content on the platform. Sometimes such infringement may not get noticed and could pass under the radar as original content.
Moreover, since YouTube is constantly looking to refine its copyright detection system, the chances of such breaches getting caught will also increase.
The changes that YouTube makes to its copyright detection system include the induction of advanced algorithms capable of scanning every uploaded video to compare it with similar uploaded content.
The intention is to find perfect matches concerning music, video, or pictures. It is music that gets spotted quickly. The sensitivity of the YouTube detection system is such that you may get caught even for using someone else's background music.
Finally, once YouTube decides to strike out, it generally does so by blocking the video. The only way to get your video off block mode is to fill in and submit a dispute form.
What to Do If You Get a YouTube Copyright Claim or Copyright Strike?
There is a perfect chance that you might suddenly be hit like a bolt of lightning by a YouTube copyright claim or strike.
The first thing you need to do is to be positive that you are on the right and you have done no wrong. Then, once assured that you have not erred, go ahead immediately to appeal the strike using a copyright counter-notification as a weapon.
If you are unsure if you have committed an error, you wait and watch if the strike still expires.
It is because after you appeal the strike against you, your personal information is sent to the holder of the copyholder, who could sue you for infringement.
In the worst-case scenario, let us say that situation reaches this stage; it is still possible for you to still work out an agreement directly with the copyright holder.
And also, try to see whether they will file an appeal with YouTube on your behalf, especially if you both convince each other that you were within your rights to use the given copyrighted material.
It is genuinely worth it, so go for it because you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
YouTube Copyright Best Practices
You need to follow a few things if you want to maintain the best copyright practices on YouTube. They are as follows:
- Get Permission to Use Copyrighted Material
As per YouTube and its First Rule of Copyright,' the creator must upload videos they have made and authorised to use.
It means that you cannot use videos or music tracks made by others. And so, if you desire to use copyrighted material to create, then you need to get permission from everyone who is the copyright holder of a piece of song or video. - Use Royalty-Free Footage, Images, and Licensed Music
Regarding royalty-free footage, images, and licensed music, ensure that you get permission from everyone who is a copyright holder for each specific piece of content.
Be sure to use original artwork, video footage, and images, or acquire content from websites that grant the use of a license like Promo.com. For images, stick to using Wikipedia Commons, which offers the use of a license for free. - Use Original Content
Any copyrighted YouTube content, whether it is music, images, or video, requires you to take permission from a copyright holder.
If you are unsure and do not want to waste time asking for permission and creating, the best solution is to go original and avoid copyrighted material.
Use "Promo.com" to Avoid YouTube Copyright Strikes
A lot of hard work is involved in making good quality videos on YouTube and maintaining your channel.
There are, however, quite a few online tools that can help protect yourself from possible YouTube copyright claims and strikes. They are as follows:
- Use Promo.com's Pre-Licensed Music
Many times YouTube creators have all the footage they need but not the type of music they want. It is to help fulfil this predicament that Promo.com provides a selection of over 1.5 K Royalty-Free music tracks to its users.
In addition, this site gives you, the creator, a choice to select music from a library using filters including mood, genre, instrument, and tempo. - Access 110M+ Photos and Videos
Among all the video makers, the digital platform available in the market is Promo.com which offers the best video creation service. It, therefore, is an excellent tool if you are or intend to become a YouTube creator.
The unique selling point or USP of the website Promo is that it allows you to enjoy unlimited use of its 110M+ photos and gallery from Getty Images and iStock.
Furthermore, it possesses an easy-to-use editing device that helps create a YouTube video by merging several videos from the library.
Conclusion
This article hopefully should have given you an insight on how you need to follow copyright rules to perfection. But unfortunately, the algorithm of YouTube is very efficient at finding copyright infringement.
So, it becomes even more critical that you follow the guidelines set by YouTube well to have a successful career as a 'YouTuber' shortly.
Frequently Asked Questions: FAQs
Q1. What are YouTube copyright rules?
One of the most basic YouTube copyright rules is that whatever your content, be it video, image, or even music, no matter the duration too, you cannot use any form of copyrighted material without the copyright holder's permission.
Therefore, it is advisable to create original YouTube and stand out than to stand in line to ask copyright holders for permission to use copyright content.
Q2. How do you avoid copyright on YouTube?
Since the only way to use copyright content on YouTube is to ask for permission from a copyright holder or holders.
The ideal way to avoid this complicated affair is to create original YouTube content for yourself. Unfortunately, there is no other alternative way that we can suggest. So make your own YouTube identity.
Q3. Is there copyright on YouTube videos?
Yes, copyright-like in other creative spheres in life, is also applicable to YouTube creation. But, more importantly, it is given to an individual who creates content on YouTube for the first time and uploads them.