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"2024 Approved The Video Creator's Guide to Copyright Compliance on YouTube"
The Video Creator’s Guide to Copyright Compliance on YouTube
The Ultimate Guide to YouTube Copyright
Richard Bennett
Nov 01, 2022• Proven solutions
One of the trickiest terrains for new YouTubers to navigate is the land of copyright rules.
We get it, it’s confusing and stressful, especially when what you want to focus on is making videos, but instead, you are worried about getting your account terminated or being sued.
Can you or can’t you use that song or that clip from the movie? That’s all you want to know.
In this article, we are going to address the key areas that YouTubers need to understand when it comes to YouTube copyright. What is okay and what isn’t? What may be considered risky or what would be worth taking a chance?
Remember that everything discussed in this article is only best practices and shouldn’t be taken as definitive legal advice.
Now that we are set, let’s dive in:
Part 1: What is Fair Use?
When we talk about YouTube copyright, we have to talk about fair use.
Without fair use, there wouldn’t be any flexibility for creators. There wouldn’t be mashups, parodies, or lip dubs. Without fair use, any video with copyright content such as music in the background or a reference to a scene from a famous movie will require approval from the content owner and can be removed. Because of fair use, you can publish a video with copyrighted material in it and not have to ask anyone.
Think of fair use as exceptions to copyright rules.
Part 2: What YouTube Considers Fair Use
There are a few aspects YouTube looks at when it comes to determining whether creators are using copyrighted content that meets the fair use exceptions.
- Is the copyrighted content being creatively or purposefully used?
- Are there more original content used than copyrighted content in the video?
- Will your video benefit the original copyrighted content?
Part 3: Types of Content That Meet Fair Use
Some acceptable styles of videos that allow you to exercise fair use are:
Critiques and Reviews: You can use clips of a movie that you review or play a chorus from a song that you are analyzing in a video and it will be okay to use because it’s serving a purpose of educating the viewer.
Tutorials and Commentary: A YouTube gamer streaming the video games and making comments throughout, that is within fair use, because it can be said that it is giving the video game exposure. Additionally, anything that can be classified as tutorials can also fall under fair use. If you have a video teaching people how to play a famous song, like The Beatles’ Let It Be , on piano, that’s fine!
Mashups: Mashups tend to be built entirely out of copyrighted material, but when done well this style of videos are very creative and often serve to promote the original work as opposed to replacing it.
There couldn’t be two more different movies than Toy Story and Fight Club, but somehow thanks the the creativity of a YouTube creator, there is a now a mashup of it. Some might call it an abomination, but this type of recycled art takes skills and planning, and it wouldn’t exist without fair use.
Parody: Imitation for comedic or dramatic effect is an artistic pursuit as long as it is done in a transformative manner. What does transformative mean? It means in some way, the original is being examined.
In this example from The Hillywood Show, we see a parody of both BBC’s Sherlock Holmes and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s Thrift Shop. The nuisance of the show and song recreated are there, but nobody who enjoys the originals will sit down and appreciate it in the same way. A parody is in no way trying to replace the original, but rather using the subject, structure, and style of the original as a vessel to another creative work.
Part 4: What To Do When You Get a YouTube Copyright Strike
If you are reading this, you may have already gotten a YouTube copyright strike.
This may have surprised you. Don’t be too concerned. If it was a mistake, the copyright strike merely acts as a warning, letting you know that the content in your video is copyrighted material.
However, if you were to get 3 copyright strikes in 90 days, you may be penalized by:
- Having all your accounts and videos removed
- Not being able to create a new channel
So what should you do? Here are the steps to take after you receive a copyright strike:
- Review the copyright strike by going into Creator Studio > Video Manager > Copyright notice
- Click on the “Copyright Strike” link beside the flagged video to see details
- Decide how to respond to the strike:
- Allow the strike to expire after 90 days and complete the YouTube’s copyright school
- Contact the person who reported your video and get the claim retracted
- Dispute the claim with a counter notification
Part 5: 5 Ways to Avoid Copyright Strike
It’s not always clear what YouTube deems fair use, but there are a few things you can do to improve your chances of meeting the qualification.
1. Use non-fictional copyright content instead of creative and fictional copyrighted content. You’ll have a better chance of meeting fair use if you use footages from a news broadcast than you would from a movie or television show.
The intent is clear when using non-fictional copyright content, such as in Bad Lip Reading. They aren’t trying to rebroadcast the Mark Zuckerberg integration, they are parodying it. The easier it is for the public to recognize that the content is from a source, and understand that the creator isn’t trying to take credit for it, the more likely it’ll pass the fair use qualification.
However, if Bad Lip Reading posted the content without lip dubbing, then one can argue that they are taking views away from the original news sources and that wouldn’t be fair use.
2. Make sure your video with copyrighted content isn’t replacing the original one. Only use enough of the source material to get your point across and ensure you are not negatively affecting the original through views and sales.
In this example from Screen Prism, we see scenes from Wes Anderson movies all through the video, however, it is not replacing any of the original films. In fact, you can say that because of this video, people will be motivated to go and watch a Wes Anderson movie, those benefiting the original creator.
3. The copyrighted material is essential to your video. Whether the copyrighted content is needed in order to illustrate a point or if that one moment from a well-recognized movie helps tie together the message, as long as the copyrighted material is serving the video in some significant way, then it will be consider fair use.
4. Give the original creator credit. Just because you give the original creator credit doesn’t mean you can rightfully use their content, however, it does give you a better chance at avoiding copyright strike. Most often, the original creators simply want credit for their work. If they see that you have noted that the content was made by them, it will only give them more exposure.
5. Keep it short. There is no precise number of seconds or ratio of copyrighted to original footage you should have in your video to qualify as fair use. But generally, if the copyrighted clip is short and/or broken up, then it stands a better chance at being approved by YouTube.
Part 6: What to Do When Other YouTubers Are Copying Your Content
As a new YouTuber, it’s a little freaky to think that someone is taking your content and republishing it or using your creations in their video without your permission.
If you ever notice that your content is being copied without your approval — if they have duplicated your video completely or is using your video without giving credit — and it is not benefiting your channel in any way, don’t worry, YouTube is designed to protect you.
Steps to Report Copyright Infringements on YouTube
- View the video that contains your copyrighted material.
- Click on “Report”
- Select “Infringes my rights” in the pop up window and click “infringes my copyright” in the dropdown options.
- Supply additional information to the report form, including the URL of the video infringing your copyrighted content and the URL of your own video.
- Submit report and wait for an email confirmation that the infringing content has been removed.
Part 7: YouTube Copyright Match
In 2018, YouTube launched a new feature called Copyright Match Tool, which automatically finds videos that are very similar or the same as the ones you’ve created. This gives you the power to determine what to do once you know the video exist.
- You can choose to do nothing.
- You can contact the publisher.
- You can report the video to YouTube for removal.
Key Takeaways
I hope this article has clarified what you can and cannot do with copyrighted content. Here is a quick summary of what we touched on in this post:
- Avoid having 3 copyright strikes on your channel at all costs.
- When using copyrighted material, ensure it is essential to the video and you are not overdoing it.
- Make sure that the copyrighted content does not take views and sales away from the original source.
- Strive to use the copyrighted content in a transformative way, as a parody or a commentary, to educate or inform.
- Give the original creator credit or have it benefit the original by giving more publicity.
- Report any creator that is infringing on your content.
Got any questions on YouTube copyright? Leave a comment below and we’ll help you answer it.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Nov 01, 2022• Proven solutions
One of the trickiest terrains for new YouTubers to navigate is the land of copyright rules.
We get it, it’s confusing and stressful, especially when what you want to focus on is making videos, but instead, you are worried about getting your account terminated or being sued.
Can you or can’t you use that song or that clip from the movie? That’s all you want to know.
In this article, we are going to address the key areas that YouTubers need to understand when it comes to YouTube copyright. What is okay and what isn’t? What may be considered risky or what would be worth taking a chance?
Remember that everything discussed in this article is only best practices and shouldn’t be taken as definitive legal advice.
Now that we are set, let’s dive in:
Part 1: What is Fair Use?
When we talk about YouTube copyright, we have to talk about fair use.
Without fair use, there wouldn’t be any flexibility for creators. There wouldn’t be mashups, parodies, or lip dubs. Without fair use, any video with copyright content such as music in the background or a reference to a scene from a famous movie will require approval from the content owner and can be removed. Because of fair use, you can publish a video with copyrighted material in it and not have to ask anyone.
Think of fair use as exceptions to copyright rules.
Part 2: What YouTube Considers Fair Use
There are a few aspects YouTube looks at when it comes to determining whether creators are using copyrighted content that meets the fair use exceptions.
- Is the copyrighted content being creatively or purposefully used?
- Are there more original content used than copyrighted content in the video?
- Will your video benefit the original copyrighted content?
Part 3: Types of Content That Meet Fair Use
Some acceptable styles of videos that allow you to exercise fair use are:
Critiques and Reviews: You can use clips of a movie that you review or play a chorus from a song that you are analyzing in a video and it will be okay to use because it’s serving a purpose of educating the viewer.
Tutorials and Commentary: A YouTube gamer streaming the video games and making comments throughout, that is within fair use, because it can be said that it is giving the video game exposure. Additionally, anything that can be classified as tutorials can also fall under fair use. If you have a video teaching people how to play a famous song, like The Beatles’ Let It Be , on piano, that’s fine!
Mashups: Mashups tend to be built entirely out of copyrighted material, but when done well this style of videos are very creative and often serve to promote the original work as opposed to replacing it.
There couldn’t be two more different movies than Toy Story and Fight Club, but somehow thanks the the creativity of a YouTube creator, there is a now a mashup of it. Some might call it an abomination, but this type of recycled art takes skills and planning, and it wouldn’t exist without fair use.
Parody: Imitation for comedic or dramatic effect is an artistic pursuit as long as it is done in a transformative manner. What does transformative mean? It means in some way, the original is being examined.
In this example from The Hillywood Show, we see a parody of both BBC’s Sherlock Holmes and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s Thrift Shop. The nuisance of the show and song recreated are there, but nobody who enjoys the originals will sit down and appreciate it in the same way. A parody is in no way trying to replace the original, but rather using the subject, structure, and style of the original as a vessel to another creative work.
Part 4: What To Do When You Get a YouTube Copyright Strike
If you are reading this, you may have already gotten a YouTube copyright strike.
This may have surprised you. Don’t be too concerned. If it was a mistake, the copyright strike merely acts as a warning, letting you know that the content in your video is copyrighted material.
However, if you were to get 3 copyright strikes in 90 days, you may be penalized by:
- Having all your accounts and videos removed
- Not being able to create a new channel
So what should you do? Here are the steps to take after you receive a copyright strike:
- Review the copyright strike by going into Creator Studio > Video Manager > Copyright notice
- Click on the “Copyright Strike” link beside the flagged video to see details
- Decide how to respond to the strike:
- Allow the strike to expire after 90 days and complete the YouTube’s copyright school
- Contact the person who reported your video and get the claim retracted
- Dispute the claim with a counter notification
Part 5: 5 Ways to Avoid Copyright Strike
It’s not always clear what YouTube deems fair use, but there are a few things you can do to improve your chances of meeting the qualification.
1. Use non-fictional copyright content instead of creative and fictional copyrighted content. You’ll have a better chance of meeting fair use if you use footages from a news broadcast than you would from a movie or television show.
The intent is clear when using non-fictional copyright content, such as in Bad Lip Reading. They aren’t trying to rebroadcast the Mark Zuckerberg integration, they are parodying it. The easier it is for the public to recognize that the content is from a source, and understand that the creator isn’t trying to take credit for it, the more likely it’ll pass the fair use qualification.
However, if Bad Lip Reading posted the content without lip dubbing, then one can argue that they are taking views away from the original news sources and that wouldn’t be fair use.
2. Make sure your video with copyrighted content isn’t replacing the original one. Only use enough of the source material to get your point across and ensure you are not negatively affecting the original through views and sales.
In this example from Screen Prism, we see scenes from Wes Anderson movies all through the video, however, it is not replacing any of the original films. In fact, you can say that because of this video, people will be motivated to go and watch a Wes Anderson movie, those benefiting the original creator.
3. The copyrighted material is essential to your video. Whether the copyrighted content is needed in order to illustrate a point or if that one moment from a well-recognized movie helps tie together the message, as long as the copyrighted material is serving the video in some significant way, then it will be consider fair use.
4. Give the original creator credit. Just because you give the original creator credit doesn’t mean you can rightfully use their content, however, it does give you a better chance at avoiding copyright strike. Most often, the original creators simply want credit for their work. If they see that you have noted that the content was made by them, it will only give them more exposure.
5. Keep it short. There is no precise number of seconds or ratio of copyrighted to original footage you should have in your video to qualify as fair use. But generally, if the copyrighted clip is short and/or broken up, then it stands a better chance at being approved by YouTube.
Part 6: What to Do When Other YouTubers Are Copying Your Content
As a new YouTuber, it’s a little freaky to think that someone is taking your content and republishing it or using your creations in their video without your permission.
If you ever notice that your content is being copied without your approval — if they have duplicated your video completely or is using your video without giving credit — and it is not benefiting your channel in any way, don’t worry, YouTube is designed to protect you.
Steps to Report Copyright Infringements on YouTube
- View the video that contains your copyrighted material.
- Click on “Report”
- Select “Infringes my rights” in the pop up window and click “infringes my copyright” in the dropdown options.
- Supply additional information to the report form, including the URL of the video infringing your copyrighted content and the URL of your own video.
- Submit report and wait for an email confirmation that the infringing content has been removed.
Part 7: YouTube Copyright Match
In 2018, YouTube launched a new feature called Copyright Match Tool, which automatically finds videos that are very similar or the same as the ones you’ve created. This gives you the power to determine what to do once you know the video exist.
- You can choose to do nothing.
- You can contact the publisher.
- You can report the video to YouTube for removal.
Key Takeaways
I hope this article has clarified what you can and cannot do with copyrighted content. Here is a quick summary of what we touched on in this post:
- Avoid having 3 copyright strikes on your channel at all costs.
- When using copyrighted material, ensure it is essential to the video and you are not overdoing it.
- Make sure that the copyrighted content does not take views and sales away from the original source.
- Strive to use the copyrighted content in a transformative way, as a parody or a commentary, to educate or inform.
- Give the original creator credit or have it benefit the original by giving more publicity.
- Report any creator that is infringing on your content.
Got any questions on YouTube copyright? Leave a comment below and we’ll help you answer it.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Nov 01, 2022• Proven solutions
One of the trickiest terrains for new YouTubers to navigate is the land of copyright rules.
We get it, it’s confusing and stressful, especially when what you want to focus on is making videos, but instead, you are worried about getting your account terminated or being sued.
Can you or can’t you use that song or that clip from the movie? That’s all you want to know.
In this article, we are going to address the key areas that YouTubers need to understand when it comes to YouTube copyright. What is okay and what isn’t? What may be considered risky or what would be worth taking a chance?
Remember that everything discussed in this article is only best practices and shouldn’t be taken as definitive legal advice.
Now that we are set, let’s dive in:
Part 1: What is Fair Use?
When we talk about YouTube copyright, we have to talk about fair use.
Without fair use, there wouldn’t be any flexibility for creators. There wouldn’t be mashups, parodies, or lip dubs. Without fair use, any video with copyright content such as music in the background or a reference to a scene from a famous movie will require approval from the content owner and can be removed. Because of fair use, you can publish a video with copyrighted material in it and not have to ask anyone.
Think of fair use as exceptions to copyright rules.
Part 2: What YouTube Considers Fair Use
There are a few aspects YouTube looks at when it comes to determining whether creators are using copyrighted content that meets the fair use exceptions.
- Is the copyrighted content being creatively or purposefully used?
- Are there more original content used than copyrighted content in the video?
- Will your video benefit the original copyrighted content?
Part 3: Types of Content That Meet Fair Use
Some acceptable styles of videos that allow you to exercise fair use are:
Critiques and Reviews: You can use clips of a movie that you review or play a chorus from a song that you are analyzing in a video and it will be okay to use because it’s serving a purpose of educating the viewer.
Tutorials and Commentary: A YouTube gamer streaming the video games and making comments throughout, that is within fair use, because it can be said that it is giving the video game exposure. Additionally, anything that can be classified as tutorials can also fall under fair use. If you have a video teaching people how to play a famous song, like The Beatles’ Let It Be , on piano, that’s fine!
Mashups: Mashups tend to be built entirely out of copyrighted material, but when done well this style of videos are very creative and often serve to promote the original work as opposed to replacing it.
There couldn’t be two more different movies than Toy Story and Fight Club, but somehow thanks the the creativity of a YouTube creator, there is a now a mashup of it. Some might call it an abomination, but this type of recycled art takes skills and planning, and it wouldn’t exist without fair use.
Parody: Imitation for comedic or dramatic effect is an artistic pursuit as long as it is done in a transformative manner. What does transformative mean? It means in some way, the original is being examined.
In this example from The Hillywood Show, we see a parody of both BBC’s Sherlock Holmes and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s Thrift Shop. The nuisance of the show and song recreated are there, but nobody who enjoys the originals will sit down and appreciate it in the same way. A parody is in no way trying to replace the original, but rather using the subject, structure, and style of the original as a vessel to another creative work.
Part 4: What To Do When You Get a YouTube Copyright Strike
If you are reading this, you may have already gotten a YouTube copyright strike.
This may have surprised you. Don’t be too concerned. If it was a mistake, the copyright strike merely acts as a warning, letting you know that the content in your video is copyrighted material.
However, if you were to get 3 copyright strikes in 90 days, you may be penalized by:
- Having all your accounts and videos removed
- Not being able to create a new channel
So what should you do? Here are the steps to take after you receive a copyright strike:
- Review the copyright strike by going into Creator Studio > Video Manager > Copyright notice
- Click on the “Copyright Strike” link beside the flagged video to see details
- Decide how to respond to the strike:
- Allow the strike to expire after 90 days and complete the YouTube’s copyright school
- Contact the person who reported your video and get the claim retracted
- Dispute the claim with a counter notification
Part 5: 5 Ways to Avoid Copyright Strike
It’s not always clear what YouTube deems fair use, but there are a few things you can do to improve your chances of meeting the qualification.
1. Use non-fictional copyright content instead of creative and fictional copyrighted content. You’ll have a better chance of meeting fair use if you use footages from a news broadcast than you would from a movie or television show.
The intent is clear when using non-fictional copyright content, such as in Bad Lip Reading. They aren’t trying to rebroadcast the Mark Zuckerberg integration, they are parodying it. The easier it is for the public to recognize that the content is from a source, and understand that the creator isn’t trying to take credit for it, the more likely it’ll pass the fair use qualification.
However, if Bad Lip Reading posted the content without lip dubbing, then one can argue that they are taking views away from the original news sources and that wouldn’t be fair use.
2. Make sure your video with copyrighted content isn’t replacing the original one. Only use enough of the source material to get your point across and ensure you are not negatively affecting the original through views and sales.
In this example from Screen Prism, we see scenes from Wes Anderson movies all through the video, however, it is not replacing any of the original films. In fact, you can say that because of this video, people will be motivated to go and watch a Wes Anderson movie, those benefiting the original creator.
3. The copyrighted material is essential to your video. Whether the copyrighted content is needed in order to illustrate a point or if that one moment from a well-recognized movie helps tie together the message, as long as the copyrighted material is serving the video in some significant way, then it will be consider fair use.
4. Give the original creator credit. Just because you give the original creator credit doesn’t mean you can rightfully use their content, however, it does give you a better chance at avoiding copyright strike. Most often, the original creators simply want credit for their work. If they see that you have noted that the content was made by them, it will only give them more exposure.
5. Keep it short. There is no precise number of seconds or ratio of copyrighted to original footage you should have in your video to qualify as fair use. But generally, if the copyrighted clip is short and/or broken up, then it stands a better chance at being approved by YouTube.
Part 6: What to Do When Other YouTubers Are Copying Your Content
As a new YouTuber, it’s a little freaky to think that someone is taking your content and republishing it or using your creations in their video without your permission.
If you ever notice that your content is being copied without your approval — if they have duplicated your video completely or is using your video without giving credit — and it is not benefiting your channel in any way, don’t worry, YouTube is designed to protect you.
Steps to Report Copyright Infringements on YouTube
- View the video that contains your copyrighted material.
- Click on “Report”
- Select “Infringes my rights” in the pop up window and click “infringes my copyright” in the dropdown options.
- Supply additional information to the report form, including the URL of the video infringing your copyrighted content and the URL of your own video.
- Submit report and wait for an email confirmation that the infringing content has been removed.
Part 7: YouTube Copyright Match
In 2018, YouTube launched a new feature called Copyright Match Tool, which automatically finds videos that are very similar or the same as the ones you’ve created. This gives you the power to determine what to do once you know the video exist.
- You can choose to do nothing.
- You can contact the publisher.
- You can report the video to YouTube for removal.
Key Takeaways
I hope this article has clarified what you can and cannot do with copyrighted content. Here is a quick summary of what we touched on in this post:
- Avoid having 3 copyright strikes on your channel at all costs.
- When using copyrighted material, ensure it is essential to the video and you are not overdoing it.
- Make sure that the copyrighted content does not take views and sales away from the original source.
- Strive to use the copyrighted content in a transformative way, as a parody or a commentary, to educate or inform.
- Give the original creator credit or have it benefit the original by giving more publicity.
- Report any creator that is infringing on your content.
Got any questions on YouTube copyright? Leave a comment below and we’ll help you answer it.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Nov 01, 2022• Proven solutions
One of the trickiest terrains for new YouTubers to navigate is the land of copyright rules.
We get it, it’s confusing and stressful, especially when what you want to focus on is making videos, but instead, you are worried about getting your account terminated or being sued.
Can you or can’t you use that song or that clip from the movie? That’s all you want to know.
In this article, we are going to address the key areas that YouTubers need to understand when it comes to YouTube copyright. What is okay and what isn’t? What may be considered risky or what would be worth taking a chance?
Remember that everything discussed in this article is only best practices and shouldn’t be taken as definitive legal advice.
Now that we are set, let’s dive in:
Part 1: What is Fair Use?
When we talk about YouTube copyright, we have to talk about fair use.
Without fair use, there wouldn’t be any flexibility for creators. There wouldn’t be mashups, parodies, or lip dubs. Without fair use, any video with copyright content such as music in the background or a reference to a scene from a famous movie will require approval from the content owner and can be removed. Because of fair use, you can publish a video with copyrighted material in it and not have to ask anyone.
Think of fair use as exceptions to copyright rules.
Part 2: What YouTube Considers Fair Use
There are a few aspects YouTube looks at when it comes to determining whether creators are using copyrighted content that meets the fair use exceptions.
- Is the copyrighted content being creatively or purposefully used?
- Are there more original content used than copyrighted content in the video?
- Will your video benefit the original copyrighted content?
Part 3: Types of Content That Meet Fair Use
Some acceptable styles of videos that allow you to exercise fair use are:
Critiques and Reviews: You can use clips of a movie that you review or play a chorus from a song that you are analyzing in a video and it will be okay to use because it’s serving a purpose of educating the viewer.
Tutorials and Commentary: A YouTube gamer streaming the video games and making comments throughout, that is within fair use, because it can be said that it is giving the video game exposure. Additionally, anything that can be classified as tutorials can also fall under fair use. If you have a video teaching people how to play a famous song, like The Beatles’ Let It Be , on piano, that’s fine!
Mashups: Mashups tend to be built entirely out of copyrighted material, but when done well this style of videos are very creative and often serve to promote the original work as opposed to replacing it.
There couldn’t be two more different movies than Toy Story and Fight Club, but somehow thanks the the creativity of a YouTube creator, there is a now a mashup of it. Some might call it an abomination, but this type of recycled art takes skills and planning, and it wouldn’t exist without fair use.
Parody: Imitation for comedic or dramatic effect is an artistic pursuit as long as it is done in a transformative manner. What does transformative mean? It means in some way, the original is being examined.
In this example from The Hillywood Show, we see a parody of both BBC’s Sherlock Holmes and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s Thrift Shop. The nuisance of the show and song recreated are there, but nobody who enjoys the originals will sit down and appreciate it in the same way. A parody is in no way trying to replace the original, but rather using the subject, structure, and style of the original as a vessel to another creative work.
Part 4: What To Do When You Get a YouTube Copyright Strike
If you are reading this, you may have already gotten a YouTube copyright strike.
This may have surprised you. Don’t be too concerned. If it was a mistake, the copyright strike merely acts as a warning, letting you know that the content in your video is copyrighted material.
However, if you were to get 3 copyright strikes in 90 days, you may be penalized by:
- Having all your accounts and videos removed
- Not being able to create a new channel
So what should you do? Here are the steps to take after you receive a copyright strike:
- Review the copyright strike by going into Creator Studio > Video Manager > Copyright notice
- Click on the “Copyright Strike” link beside the flagged video to see details
- Decide how to respond to the strike:
- Allow the strike to expire after 90 days and complete the YouTube’s copyright school
- Contact the person who reported your video and get the claim retracted
- Dispute the claim with a counter notification
Part 5: 5 Ways to Avoid Copyright Strike
It’s not always clear what YouTube deems fair use, but there are a few things you can do to improve your chances of meeting the qualification.
1. Use non-fictional copyright content instead of creative and fictional copyrighted content. You’ll have a better chance of meeting fair use if you use footages from a news broadcast than you would from a movie or television show.
The intent is clear when using non-fictional copyright content, such as in Bad Lip Reading. They aren’t trying to rebroadcast the Mark Zuckerberg integration, they are parodying it. The easier it is for the public to recognize that the content is from a source, and understand that the creator isn’t trying to take credit for it, the more likely it’ll pass the fair use qualification.
However, if Bad Lip Reading posted the content without lip dubbing, then one can argue that they are taking views away from the original news sources and that wouldn’t be fair use.
2. Make sure your video with copyrighted content isn’t replacing the original one. Only use enough of the source material to get your point across and ensure you are not negatively affecting the original through views and sales.
In this example from Screen Prism, we see scenes from Wes Anderson movies all through the video, however, it is not replacing any of the original films. In fact, you can say that because of this video, people will be motivated to go and watch a Wes Anderson movie, those benefiting the original creator.
3. The copyrighted material is essential to your video. Whether the copyrighted content is needed in order to illustrate a point or if that one moment from a well-recognized movie helps tie together the message, as long as the copyrighted material is serving the video in some significant way, then it will be consider fair use.
4. Give the original creator credit. Just because you give the original creator credit doesn’t mean you can rightfully use their content, however, it does give you a better chance at avoiding copyright strike. Most often, the original creators simply want credit for their work. If they see that you have noted that the content was made by them, it will only give them more exposure.
5. Keep it short. There is no precise number of seconds or ratio of copyrighted to original footage you should have in your video to qualify as fair use. But generally, if the copyrighted clip is short and/or broken up, then it stands a better chance at being approved by YouTube.
Part 6: What to Do When Other YouTubers Are Copying Your Content
As a new YouTuber, it’s a little freaky to think that someone is taking your content and republishing it or using your creations in their video without your permission.
If you ever notice that your content is being copied without your approval — if they have duplicated your video completely or is using your video without giving credit — and it is not benefiting your channel in any way, don’t worry, YouTube is designed to protect you.
Steps to Report Copyright Infringements on YouTube
- View the video that contains your copyrighted material.
- Click on “Report”
- Select “Infringes my rights” in the pop up window and click “infringes my copyright” in the dropdown options.
- Supply additional information to the report form, including the URL of the video infringing your copyrighted content and the URL of your own video.
- Submit report and wait for an email confirmation that the infringing content has been removed.
Part 7: YouTube Copyright Match
In 2018, YouTube launched a new feature called Copyright Match Tool, which automatically finds videos that are very similar or the same as the ones you’ve created. This gives you the power to determine what to do once you know the video exist.
- You can choose to do nothing.
- You can contact the publisher.
- You can report the video to YouTube for removal.
Key Takeaways
I hope this article has clarified what you can and cannot do with copyrighted content. Here is a quick summary of what we touched on in this post:
- Avoid having 3 copyright strikes on your channel at all costs.
- When using copyrighted material, ensure it is essential to the video and you are not overdoing it.
- Make sure that the copyrighted content does not take views and sales away from the original source.
- Strive to use the copyrighted content in a transformative way, as a parody or a commentary, to educate or inform.
- Give the original creator credit or have it benefit the original by giving more publicity.
- Report any creator that is infringing on your content.
Got any questions on YouTube copyright? Leave a comment below and we’ll help you answer it.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
YouTube Subscriber Awards! The Play Button Awards for Creators
YouTube Subscriber Awards! The Play Button Awards for Creators
Richard Bennett
Dec 30, 2022• Proven solutions
YouTube rewards creators for channel growth using “Play Buttons,” YouTube Subscriber Awards that they mail to creators who have reached certain milestones such as 100,000 subscribers. Due to user demand for more recognition of smaller channels, YouTube also introduced reward levels for channels that are still growing. These lower levels don’t come with trophies, but creators who reach them should feel proud.
Here are all of YouTube’s levels, from small to big:
Benefit levels
Awards Level
[4. The Silver Creator Award](#The Silver Creator Award)
[5. The Gold Creator Award](#The Gold Creator Award)
[6. The Diamond Creator Award](#The Diamond Creator Award)
Super High Level
[7. The Custom Creator Award](#The Custom Creator Award)
[8. The Red Diamond Creator Award](#The Red Diamond Creator Award)
Want to learn how to get more subscribers and increase your level?
Benefit levels
YouTube won’t award the YouTubers of these levels with physical plaque but will offer them alternative benefits.
#1: Graphite Level (0-1000 subscribers)
Graphite is the starter level. As soon as you start a YouTube channel, you will already be on this level until you get up to 1K subscribers. During this time, you should focus on learning how YouTube works and perfecting your video production and editing skills. If your YouTube Channel subscriber is over 100, then you will be allowed to custom the URL of your channel. For more information about Custom Channel URL, please read: How to Find and Change Your YouTube Channel URL – Super Easy! >>
#2: Opal Level (1000-10K subscribers)
After you get your first thousand subscribers on your YouTube channel, you will be on the Opal Level. This is one of the three requirements for getting access to the Partner Program for monetization . By this point, you’ll have started to develop your own style and build a personal brand. This is the time to start networking with other YouTubers and trying to find collaboration partners.
#3: Bronze Level (10K-100K subscribers)
Getting ten thousand subscribers is a big deal. By this point, you have enough of a following that they could be called a fanbase, and you can start leveraging your platform to make money through AdSense. Once you pass 10K subscribers, it starts to become easier to find brand deals and sponsorships too. YouTube will offer an additional option of Teespring for the monetized channel at this level.
Awards Level
When a verified YouTube channel reaches a specific milestone and is deemed eligible for a creator award, they are awarded a relatively flat trophy in a metal casing with a YouTube play button symbol.
#4: The Silver Creator Award (100K-1 million subscribers)
This is the first level that comes with a trophy. YouTubers with a Silver Play Button probably won’t be earning enough money from YouTube to support themselves, but they’re in a good position to start going after more lucrative brand deals. Creators at this level may be earning enough to invest in some better camera gear. Channels at this level are also eligible to apply for a digital verification badge.
#5: The Gold Creator Award (1 million-10 million subscribers)
If people mean graphite when they say ‘lead,’ and alchemists turn lead into gold, then is YouTube really about alchemy?
At this level, you’re making money. When you first reach 1 million, it may still not be enough to live off of, but you’re getting close to being able to make YouTube your job (which you will probably be able to do before leaving the Gold Level). Things like your own makeup line or a book deal are not out of the question at this point.
#6: The Diamond Creator Award (10 million-50 million subscribers)
You’re a YouTube star. You’ve made it. You’re making enough money that YouTube/projects spawned from your YouTube channel support you completely, and you’ve probably got a team of helpers. Expect to be going on tours to meet and perform for your fans’ live. Also, if you didn’t have a book deal before, you almost definitely have one now.
Super High Level
The awards in these levels are absent from the Creator Awards page. Only a handful of channels achieved these levels.
#7: The Custom Creator Award (50 million subscribers)
For channels whose subscribers are over 50 million, PewDiePie is the first person to ever receive this reward. It was made by the shape of his channel logo, a fist bump. He nicknamed this custom play button the Ruby Play Button. If you manage to reach this level, you are beyond being a star on YouTube and are now a bonafide pop culture phenomenon.
#8: The Red Diamond Creator Award (100 million subscribers)
The play button at this level features a play button triangle with a large dark red crystal. If you are able to obtain the award at this level, monetization should never be for you to worry about. One hundred million subscribers mean that 1.3% of the people on this planet are watching you. You’d be a legend if you made it. As of August 2020, only PewDiePie and T-series have obtained this award.
Click here to check out the 5 most subscribed YouTubers.
Welp. Those are the YouTube subscriber awards. What level are you on?
If you want to find a video editing solution that empowers your imagination and creativity yet takes less effort, please try this robust and user-friendly video editing software Wondershare Filmora. It provides special effects, stock photo & video, sound library, etc., which will definitely enhance your productivity and helps to make monetization on YouTube much accessible.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Dec 30, 2022• Proven solutions
YouTube rewards creators for channel growth using “Play Buttons,” YouTube Subscriber Awards that they mail to creators who have reached certain milestones such as 100,000 subscribers. Due to user demand for more recognition of smaller channels, YouTube also introduced reward levels for channels that are still growing. These lower levels don’t come with trophies, but creators who reach them should feel proud.
Here are all of YouTube’s levels, from small to big:
Benefit levels
Awards Level
[4. The Silver Creator Award](#The Silver Creator Award)
[5. The Gold Creator Award](#The Gold Creator Award)
[6. The Diamond Creator Award](#The Diamond Creator Award)
Super High Level
[7. The Custom Creator Award](#The Custom Creator Award)
[8. The Red Diamond Creator Award](#The Red Diamond Creator Award)
Want to learn how to get more subscribers and increase your level?
Benefit levels
YouTube won’t award the YouTubers of these levels with physical plaque but will offer them alternative benefits.
#1: Graphite Level (0-1000 subscribers)
Graphite is the starter level. As soon as you start a YouTube channel, you will already be on this level until you get up to 1K subscribers. During this time, you should focus on learning how YouTube works and perfecting your video production and editing skills. If your YouTube Channel subscriber is over 100, then you will be allowed to custom the URL of your channel. For more information about Custom Channel URL, please read: How to Find and Change Your YouTube Channel URL – Super Easy! >>
#2: Opal Level (1000-10K subscribers)
After you get your first thousand subscribers on your YouTube channel, you will be on the Opal Level. This is one of the three requirements for getting access to the Partner Program for monetization . By this point, you’ll have started to develop your own style and build a personal brand. This is the time to start networking with other YouTubers and trying to find collaboration partners.
#3: Bronze Level (10K-100K subscribers)
Getting ten thousand subscribers is a big deal. By this point, you have enough of a following that they could be called a fanbase, and you can start leveraging your platform to make money through AdSense. Once you pass 10K subscribers, it starts to become easier to find brand deals and sponsorships too. YouTube will offer an additional option of Teespring for the monetized channel at this level.
Awards Level
When a verified YouTube channel reaches a specific milestone and is deemed eligible for a creator award, they are awarded a relatively flat trophy in a metal casing with a YouTube play button symbol.
#4: The Silver Creator Award (100K-1 million subscribers)
This is the first level that comes with a trophy. YouTubers with a Silver Play Button probably won’t be earning enough money from YouTube to support themselves, but they’re in a good position to start going after more lucrative brand deals. Creators at this level may be earning enough to invest in some better camera gear. Channels at this level are also eligible to apply for a digital verification badge.
#5: The Gold Creator Award (1 million-10 million subscribers)
If people mean graphite when they say ‘lead,’ and alchemists turn lead into gold, then is YouTube really about alchemy?
At this level, you’re making money. When you first reach 1 million, it may still not be enough to live off of, but you’re getting close to being able to make YouTube your job (which you will probably be able to do before leaving the Gold Level). Things like your own makeup line or a book deal are not out of the question at this point.
#6: The Diamond Creator Award (10 million-50 million subscribers)
You’re a YouTube star. You’ve made it. You’re making enough money that YouTube/projects spawned from your YouTube channel support you completely, and you’ve probably got a team of helpers. Expect to be going on tours to meet and perform for your fans’ live. Also, if you didn’t have a book deal before, you almost definitely have one now.
Super High Level
The awards in these levels are absent from the Creator Awards page. Only a handful of channels achieved these levels.
#7: The Custom Creator Award (50 million subscribers)
For channels whose subscribers are over 50 million, PewDiePie is the first person to ever receive this reward. It was made by the shape of his channel logo, a fist bump. He nicknamed this custom play button the Ruby Play Button. If you manage to reach this level, you are beyond being a star on YouTube and are now a bonafide pop culture phenomenon.
#8: The Red Diamond Creator Award (100 million subscribers)
The play button at this level features a play button triangle with a large dark red crystal. If you are able to obtain the award at this level, monetization should never be for you to worry about. One hundred million subscribers mean that 1.3% of the people on this planet are watching you. You’d be a legend if you made it. As of August 2020, only PewDiePie and T-series have obtained this award.
Click here to check out the 5 most subscribed YouTubers.
Welp. Those are the YouTube subscriber awards. What level are you on?
If you want to find a video editing solution that empowers your imagination and creativity yet takes less effort, please try this robust and user-friendly video editing software Wondershare Filmora. It provides special effects, stock photo & video, sound library, etc., which will definitely enhance your productivity and helps to make monetization on YouTube much accessible.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Dec 30, 2022• Proven solutions
YouTube rewards creators for channel growth using “Play Buttons,” YouTube Subscriber Awards that they mail to creators who have reached certain milestones such as 100,000 subscribers. Due to user demand for more recognition of smaller channels, YouTube also introduced reward levels for channels that are still growing. These lower levels don’t come with trophies, but creators who reach them should feel proud.
Here are all of YouTube’s levels, from small to big:
Benefit levels
Awards Level
[4. The Silver Creator Award](#The Silver Creator Award)
[5. The Gold Creator Award](#The Gold Creator Award)
[6. The Diamond Creator Award](#The Diamond Creator Award)
Super High Level
[7. The Custom Creator Award](#The Custom Creator Award)
[8. The Red Diamond Creator Award](#The Red Diamond Creator Award)
Want to learn how to get more subscribers and increase your level?
Benefit levels
YouTube won’t award the YouTubers of these levels with physical plaque but will offer them alternative benefits.
#1: Graphite Level (0-1000 subscribers)
Graphite is the starter level. As soon as you start a YouTube channel, you will already be on this level until you get up to 1K subscribers. During this time, you should focus on learning how YouTube works and perfecting your video production and editing skills. If your YouTube Channel subscriber is over 100, then you will be allowed to custom the URL of your channel. For more information about Custom Channel URL, please read: How to Find and Change Your YouTube Channel URL – Super Easy! >>
#2: Opal Level (1000-10K subscribers)
After you get your first thousand subscribers on your YouTube channel, you will be on the Opal Level. This is one of the three requirements for getting access to the Partner Program for monetization . By this point, you’ll have started to develop your own style and build a personal brand. This is the time to start networking with other YouTubers and trying to find collaboration partners.
#3: Bronze Level (10K-100K subscribers)
Getting ten thousand subscribers is a big deal. By this point, you have enough of a following that they could be called a fanbase, and you can start leveraging your platform to make money through AdSense. Once you pass 10K subscribers, it starts to become easier to find brand deals and sponsorships too. YouTube will offer an additional option of Teespring for the monetized channel at this level.
Awards Level
When a verified YouTube channel reaches a specific milestone and is deemed eligible for a creator award, they are awarded a relatively flat trophy in a metal casing with a YouTube play button symbol.
#4: The Silver Creator Award (100K-1 million subscribers)
This is the first level that comes with a trophy. YouTubers with a Silver Play Button probably won’t be earning enough money from YouTube to support themselves, but they’re in a good position to start going after more lucrative brand deals. Creators at this level may be earning enough to invest in some better camera gear. Channels at this level are also eligible to apply for a digital verification badge.
#5: The Gold Creator Award (1 million-10 million subscribers)
If people mean graphite when they say ‘lead,’ and alchemists turn lead into gold, then is YouTube really about alchemy?
At this level, you’re making money. When you first reach 1 million, it may still not be enough to live off of, but you’re getting close to being able to make YouTube your job (which you will probably be able to do before leaving the Gold Level). Things like your own makeup line or a book deal are not out of the question at this point.
#6: The Diamond Creator Award (10 million-50 million subscribers)
You’re a YouTube star. You’ve made it. You’re making enough money that YouTube/projects spawned from your YouTube channel support you completely, and you’ve probably got a team of helpers. Expect to be going on tours to meet and perform for your fans’ live. Also, if you didn’t have a book deal before, you almost definitely have one now.
Super High Level
The awards in these levels are absent from the Creator Awards page. Only a handful of channels achieved these levels.
#7: The Custom Creator Award (50 million subscribers)
For channels whose subscribers are over 50 million, PewDiePie is the first person to ever receive this reward. It was made by the shape of his channel logo, a fist bump. He nicknamed this custom play button the Ruby Play Button. If you manage to reach this level, you are beyond being a star on YouTube and are now a bonafide pop culture phenomenon.
#8: The Red Diamond Creator Award (100 million subscribers)
The play button at this level features a play button triangle with a large dark red crystal. If you are able to obtain the award at this level, monetization should never be for you to worry about. One hundred million subscribers mean that 1.3% of the people on this planet are watching you. You’d be a legend if you made it. As of August 2020, only PewDiePie and T-series have obtained this award.
Click here to check out the 5 most subscribed YouTubers.
Welp. Those are the YouTube subscriber awards. What level are you on?
If you want to find a video editing solution that empowers your imagination and creativity yet takes less effort, please try this robust and user-friendly video editing software Wondershare Filmora. It provides special effects, stock photo & video, sound library, etc., which will definitely enhance your productivity and helps to make monetization on YouTube much accessible.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Dec 30, 2022• Proven solutions
YouTube rewards creators for channel growth using “Play Buttons,” YouTube Subscriber Awards that they mail to creators who have reached certain milestones such as 100,000 subscribers. Due to user demand for more recognition of smaller channels, YouTube also introduced reward levels for channels that are still growing. These lower levels don’t come with trophies, but creators who reach them should feel proud.
Here are all of YouTube’s levels, from small to big:
Benefit levels
Awards Level
[4. The Silver Creator Award](#The Silver Creator Award)
[5. The Gold Creator Award](#The Gold Creator Award)
[6. The Diamond Creator Award](#The Diamond Creator Award)
Super High Level
[7. The Custom Creator Award](#The Custom Creator Award)
[8. The Red Diamond Creator Award](#The Red Diamond Creator Award)
Want to learn how to get more subscribers and increase your level?
Benefit levels
YouTube won’t award the YouTubers of these levels with physical plaque but will offer them alternative benefits.
#1: Graphite Level (0-1000 subscribers)
Graphite is the starter level. As soon as you start a YouTube channel, you will already be on this level until you get up to 1K subscribers. During this time, you should focus on learning how YouTube works and perfecting your video production and editing skills. If your YouTube Channel subscriber is over 100, then you will be allowed to custom the URL of your channel. For more information about Custom Channel URL, please read: How to Find and Change Your YouTube Channel URL – Super Easy! >>
#2: Opal Level (1000-10K subscribers)
After you get your first thousand subscribers on your YouTube channel, you will be on the Opal Level. This is one of the three requirements for getting access to the Partner Program for monetization . By this point, you’ll have started to develop your own style and build a personal brand. This is the time to start networking with other YouTubers and trying to find collaboration partners.
#3: Bronze Level (10K-100K subscribers)
Getting ten thousand subscribers is a big deal. By this point, you have enough of a following that they could be called a fanbase, and you can start leveraging your platform to make money through AdSense. Once you pass 10K subscribers, it starts to become easier to find brand deals and sponsorships too. YouTube will offer an additional option of Teespring for the monetized channel at this level.
Awards Level
When a verified YouTube channel reaches a specific milestone and is deemed eligible for a creator award, they are awarded a relatively flat trophy in a metal casing with a YouTube play button symbol.
#4: The Silver Creator Award (100K-1 million subscribers)
This is the first level that comes with a trophy. YouTubers with a Silver Play Button probably won’t be earning enough money from YouTube to support themselves, but they’re in a good position to start going after more lucrative brand deals. Creators at this level may be earning enough to invest in some better camera gear. Channels at this level are also eligible to apply for a digital verification badge.
#5: The Gold Creator Award (1 million-10 million subscribers)
If people mean graphite when they say ‘lead,’ and alchemists turn lead into gold, then is YouTube really about alchemy?
At this level, you’re making money. When you first reach 1 million, it may still not be enough to live off of, but you’re getting close to being able to make YouTube your job (which you will probably be able to do before leaving the Gold Level). Things like your own makeup line or a book deal are not out of the question at this point.
#6: The Diamond Creator Award (10 million-50 million subscribers)
You’re a YouTube star. You’ve made it. You’re making enough money that YouTube/projects spawned from your YouTube channel support you completely, and you’ve probably got a team of helpers. Expect to be going on tours to meet and perform for your fans’ live. Also, if you didn’t have a book deal before, you almost definitely have one now.
Super High Level
The awards in these levels are absent from the Creator Awards page. Only a handful of channels achieved these levels.
#7: The Custom Creator Award (50 million subscribers)
For channels whose subscribers are over 50 million, PewDiePie is the first person to ever receive this reward. It was made by the shape of his channel logo, a fist bump. He nicknamed this custom play button the Ruby Play Button. If you manage to reach this level, you are beyond being a star on YouTube and are now a bonafide pop culture phenomenon.
#8: The Red Diamond Creator Award (100 million subscribers)
The play button at this level features a play button triangle with a large dark red crystal. If you are able to obtain the award at this level, monetization should never be for you to worry about. One hundred million subscribers mean that 1.3% of the people on this planet are watching you. You’d be a legend if you made it. As of August 2020, only PewDiePie and T-series have obtained this award.
Click here to check out the 5 most subscribed YouTubers.
Welp. Those are the YouTube subscriber awards. What level are you on?
If you want to find a video editing solution that empowers your imagination and creativity yet takes less effort, please try this robust and user-friendly video editing software Wondershare Filmora. It provides special effects, stock photo & video, sound library, etc., which will definitely enhance your productivity and helps to make monetization on YouTube much accessible.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
- Title: "2024 Approved The Video Creator's Guide to Copyright Compliance on YouTube"
- Author: Joseph
- Created at : 2024-05-31 13:43:45
- Updated at : 2024-06-01 13:43:45
- Link: https://youtube-stream.techidaily.com/2024-approved-the-video-creators-guide-to-copyright-compliance-on-youtube/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
