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Update: INDmusic has responded to anger over the recent spate of copyright claims on YouTube videos.
Original story: YouTube has responded to the angry reaction from music composers, game developers, publishers, video content creators and general users over its new copyright policies.
Recent changes to the site’s Content ID system has resulted in numerous videos being flagged due to copyright issues, meaning those who uploaded them cannot make money from them.
Videos such as Let’s Plays often provide free publicity for big and small developers alike, while enabling the most prominent uploaders to make a living from providing entertainment through game commentary and reviews.
But with the latest changes, companies such as INDmusic and TuneCore have enacted a spate of automatic copyright claims – often without direct permission – for music created by its clients.
In response, YouTube has tried to explain why changes have been made to the Content ID system, and how video creators can avoid claims.
One suggestion from the video-sharing firm is for users to turn off the background music in games.
You can read the full response below.
Hi from YouTube,
You might have heard about, or been impacted by an increase in copyright claims made on videos over the past week. We’re getting in touch to explain what’s happening and how you can get back to creating and monetising great videos.
What’s happening
Content ID is YouTube’s system for scanning videos for copyrighted content and giving content owners choices on what they want us to do with them. Last week, we expanded the system to scan more channels, including those affiliated with a multi-channel network ("MCN"). As a result, some channels, including many gaming channels, saw claims appear against their videos from audio or video copyright holders.
Understanding Content ID claims
Keep in mind one video may contain multiple copyrighted works, any of which could potentially result in a claim. For example a record label may own music playing in the video (even in the background), a music distributor may own a game’s soundtrack, or a game publisher may own in-game cinematic content. Also, online rights are often resold to companies like music labels and aggregators. While you might not recognize the owner, this doesn’t necessarily mean their claims are invalid.
Deciding what to do
When a claim is made, you’ll see what’s been claimed, who’s claimed it, what type of claim it is (audio or video), and you can play back the part of your video that it matched. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to act on Content ID claims, and you can find out all your next steps, dispute options, and other troubleshooting resources here.
It’s also important to know that most claims won’t impact your account standing.
Tips for new videos
If you’re creating videos with content from other people, remember that rights ownership can be complicated and different owners have different policies. Be aware of music. Many games allow you to turn off background music, while leaving sound effects enabled. And if you’re looking for music you can freely use (and monetize!), check out our Audio Library.
Whether gaming, music or comedy is your passion, know that we love what you do. We’ve worked hard to design Content ID and other tools to give everyone — from individual creators to media companies — the opportunity to make great videos and earn money. As YouTube grows, we want to make sure we’re providing the right product features to ensure that everyone continues to thrive.
Sincerely,
The YouTube team
