Only use content that you've created yourself Another way to avoid copyright infringement and strikes is to only use your own content on YouTube. If you only use music and videos that you've created yourself, you won't have to worry about copyright claims as you'll be the copyright owner.
To get permission to use a copyrighted song, you'll need to find the artist or owner of the song and contact them. Most of the time you contact famous musicians directly, but you can contact their music publishers instead.
If what you are using isn't in the public domain, you WILL need to obtain a license to use it. The more formal the license, the more protected you are when using it. Also, keep in mind that many recordings have copyright for the song and the recording of the song itself.
If you use this music, your video may be muted or may be entirely unavailable on YouTube. Block in some countries/regions: One or more copyright holders have restricted the countries/regions in which this music is available on YouTube.
Common copyright myths
Giving credit to the copyright owner doesn't automatically give you the rights to use their copyrighted work. You need to make sure you've secured all the necessary rights to all copyright-protected elements in your video before you upload it to YouTube.
Assume just because you only use a few seconds of any clip that it will “be ok.” You cannot use any copyrighted material, no matter the length, without permission. Think that if you give credit to the artist, you can use their copyrighted material. Again, unless you get specific permission, you cannot use it.
This is one of the most common misconceptions. Unfortunately, this is not true and there is no bright line rule that says a use is an acceptable use as long as you only use 5, 15, or 30 seconds of a song. Any use of copyrighted material without permission is, according to U.S. copyright law, copyright infringement.
If proven valid, your video will likely be taken down. If you receive a Copyright Strike, you are no longer eligible to monetize your videos or live stream from your account until the strike expires. If you receive three Copyright Strikes, your entire channel will be terminated and you will be banned from the platform.
Or merely a ten-second refrain? Unfortunately, there are no fixed standards as to how much of a song you can use without infringing the song owner's copyright. Of course, the shorter you can make the clip, the stronger your argument for fair use protection.
Creators participating in the YouTube Partner Program can share revenue from eligible cover song videos on YouTube, once music publisher owners claim those videos. You'll be paid revenue for these videos on a pro rata basis.
Videos uploaded to YouTube are scanned against a database of audio and visual content that's been submitted to YouTube by copyright owners. When Content ID finds a match, it applies a Content ID claim to the matching video.
Generally, a copyright claim is removed within 5 minutes. However, in some cases, due to high load on the YouTube system, the process might take up to 24 hours.
The amount of use: This is where the 30-second rule is debunked. Small portions of a work may be permitted as fair use, while the entire work is not. However, there are no specific guidelines for infringement.
If you get 3 copyright strikes: Your account, along with any associated channels, is subject to termination. All the videos uploaded to your account will be removed.
A copyright claim does not lead to your YouTube channel getting banned. If your channel gets a copyright claim, the copyright holder can claim the revenue you made using the copyrighted content. A copyright owner can insist on putting ads across your video to generate revenue.
How Long Does Copyright Law Last for Music? Generally, any song or musical work published in 1925 or before in the US is in the public domain. As of January 1, 2022, musical compositions from 1926 and earlier will be in the public domain.
If you want to legally use copyrighted music on YouTube, you'll have to go out and get approval from the original creator in order to use it. That's the second side of music licensing. Copyright law makes sure that creators get paid when people use their work — that's where YouTube's music policy comes into play.
If someone takes photos or videos made by you and shares them without your permission, this could be a breach of your privacy or infringement of your copyright. In these cases, then it's up to you to take legal action.
Violent or dangerous content
Hate speech, predatory behavior, graphic violence, malicious attacks, and content that promotes harmful or dangerous behavior isn't allowed on YouTube.
TikTok users are subject to copyright law just like any YouTube or Instagram creator. The difference is that this platform is relatively new, so it can be easier to fly under the radar. But that's a huge risk! Your hard work could be muted or taken down altogether.