Copyright policies on YouTube: everything you need to know

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The tricky issue of copyright is not well defined in the digital environment, since in many cases it is not clear which uses of content are legitimate and which are not. A significant example of this is the state of YouTube's copyright policies . Can we use any music, image or clip in our videos? In one of his videos, YouTuber Jaime Altozano already explained in a masterful way how the legitimacy of copyright usually works on the platform. In this article we are dedicated to breaking down the matter a little more.







Previous aspects to take into account about copyright on YouTube

First of all, it must be emphasized that the method that preserves the legi Mexico Mobile Number List timacy of the copyright of works published on YouTube often does not walk parallel to the legal system. Within the long and vast Internet – with microcosms like YouTube – most cases of copyright infringement are never litigated . It is obvious that those responsible for audiovisual works are not going to censor everyone who makes inappropriate use of their films, series or songs. It is an impossible exercise. And to this we must also add that the laws in each country are different.



Content ID or how to manage copyright on YouTube

Regarding how copyright is managed on YouTube, copyright owners can use a tool called Content ID to ensure that their copyrighted content is not uploaded to the platform. Content ID is a system created by the social network that compares each uploaded video with a database:



First of all, the rights owners send an audio or visual file with the contents. This will be the reference that Google uses to identify your work

Google creates a digital fingerprint of these contents, which goes to the database

Content ID is responsible for comparing the videos uploaded by YouTubers with that database, trying to identify if someone has used any of the content protected by copyright.





In the event that something matches an original work, a Content ID claim is issued and YouTube gives the rights owner three options:



Block the video (block worldwide) so that it is inaccessible to everyone.

Monetize it: obtain economic benefit through ads without banning the video on the platform.

Track viewing statistics (for example, the countries where that video is most popular).

Typically, rights owners choose to earn revenue through ads and sometimes share these profits with the person who uploaded it.



…although it is not a perfect system

The problem with this tool is that it is not a definitive system of legal validity. That is, the Content ID algorithm only detects if a movie, series or song was used; It says nothing about whether that use is legal or not. Despite everything, if the system wrongly identifies a video that has all the rights of use and the YouTuber receives the communication from the social network, a Content ID claim can be challenged . In this case, a form must be filled out and the claim will be temporarily withdrawn. From there, the copyright owner can do three things: withdraw the claim , maintain it , or ask that the video be removed . In the latter case, the user will be sent a strike for copyright infringement, but the creator of the reported video can still file an appeal.



Copyright infringement on YouTube

Even if a legitimate use is made of the works and the Content ID filters are passed, it may happen that when uploading a video someone - often people hired by the copyright owners - issues a notice for breach of copyright . Unlike Content ID, which allows agreements to be reached between YouTube and content owners, a breach of this type is applied in accordance with the relevant legislation.



These notices are the most dangerous because after three warnings or strikes in less than 90 days, YouTube will cancel the channel . However, there are times when many channels are closed even if they comply with the law because there is no one on YouTube to verify that all these notices really have legal support . However, in this case it is also possible to send a counter notification to restore the video.





Music policies: song copyright management

To better manage copyright on YouTube, there is also a directory for songs, Music Policies , which tells you by song what can happen with your video if it is detected within. It is a very good tool to check what may happen. Sometimes the only thing that will happen is that the income from the ads will be given to the rights owners and they will leave the song to you (even so, this is not a legal guarantee of anything, the owner of the rights (you can always change your mind at any time).

And what about the covers?

With covers, those versions of songs made by YouTubers, something similar happens to what we have already mentioned with the original works: it is illegal to upload a video singing a song that is not yours. There's no turning back. There would be the remote possibility of acquiring a synchronization license , but this option is very complicated because these permissions are negotiated individually with the record company. So what people do is upload their covers and that's it, although the consequences there may be are the same as with the original works. As I said: the big record companies are not going to bother to denounce everyone who covers a song.



Summary: a somewhat unstable scenario

In short, the state of copyright on YouTube is a somewhat unstable scenario . Almost everything is limited to a matter of luck: knowing if you are going to be lucky and the copyright owner does not catch you and, therefore, does not report your video.