Ensuring Copyright Compliance in YouTube Videos: A Comprehensive Guide

Posting content on YouTube without proper copyright clearance can lead to viral videos and even more viral copyright strikes. It's crucial to review and verify the copyright status of your video before uploading. This article provides a detailed guide on how to check any copyright issues in your YouTube videos prior to publishing.

Automatic Copyright Scanning by YouTube

YouTube has an automated system in place to scan new uploads for potential copyright infringement. Once a video is uploaded and prior to publishing, any flagged content will appear in the Copyright Issues section. If your video includes any copyrighted material, YouTube will provide details on the claim and possible restrictions.

Questions to Ask Yourself

To determine if your video is safe to upload, ask yourself the following questions:

Did you create it all on your own? Did you take anything from another artist? Is the music and dialog all created by you?

If you haven't stolen any content and the video is a parody, you are likely to be in good standing for upload. However, it's wise to familiarize yourself with YouTube's rules before hitting the upload button.

Manual Verification Checks

While YouTube automatically scans videos, manual verification can sometimes uncover issues that the system might not catch. Here are some steps you can take to ensure your video is copyright compliant:

1. Check Your Own Content

Start by asking yourself: Did you film all of it yourself? Did you write all the script (if applicable)? Is all the music used tracks you have written and recorded yourself? Are any stills, including fonts, ones you have created?

If you answer 'No' to any of these questions, you may have a copyright issue. Ensure that such content is either open sourced or licenced for your intended use.

2. Compare Against Published Reports

Another method is to compare your audio or video content against published reports. Look for discrepancies and potential copyright issues. This can be done using various online tools and services that specialize in copyright monitoring.

3. Monitor Through YouTube's Copyright Tab

Open the Copyright tab during the uploading process. YouTube will highlight any copyright issues based on its Copyright ID data. However, recording companies can manually place copyright flags on videos long after upload. It's a good practice to check your content against reports from other users.

4. Contact Video Rights Support

If you encounter copyright flags, it's advisable to reach out to the video rights support team of the relevant company. They may be able to remove the flag or provide more information on the claim. I have successfully managed to get a flag removed from a video using this approach.

Note that claims from CS (Content Submission) companies may be fraudulent. Before taking any action, verify the legitimacy of the claim.

What Happens If You Ignore Copyright Issues?

If you decide to ignore copyright issues and upload your video before resolving them, the consequences can be severe. Once a video is published, it will still show any unresolved copyright claims in the Content tab of YouTube Studio. This can prevent your video from being fully available to viewers, leading to reduced engagement and watchtime.

The warning triangle in the YouTube Studio Content tab indicates that viewers cannot see the video due to copyright issues. This can drastically impact your video's performance and visibility on the platform.

Conclusion

To ensure a smooth and successful YouTube experience, it's essential to thoroughly check for any copyright issues before uploading your video. Follow the steps outlined in this guide to minimize the risk of copyright strikes and maximize your video's potential for success on one of the largest video-sharing platforms in the world.