Navigating Copyright Claims Before Posting on YouTube: A Comprehensive Guide

Posting a video on YouTube is an exciting endeavor. However, before you hit the publish button, it's crucial to ensure that your content is free from copyright claims. YouTube has an automated system that scans each uploaded video for potential copyright infringements. This guide will walk you through the process and provide tips on how to ensure your video is legally clear for public viewing.

Understanding the YouTube Copyright System

Once you've uploaded your video to YouTube, the platform automatically scans it for any copyrighted material. This step occurs even before the video is officially published. If the system flags any content resembling existing copyrights, you'll see an alert in the Copyright Issues section. At this stage, you will be provided with details about the claim and any potential restrictions.

Checking for Originality

Before you begin the uploading process, it's essential to verify if all elements of your video are original:

Did you create it all on your own? Did you take any content from another artist? Is all the music and dialog you used created by you? If you haven’t stolen anything and if it’s a parody, you are likely in the clear to upload.

However, it's always a good idea to review YouTube's copyright rules before proceeding with the upload.

Identifying and Addressing Copyright Issues

The Copyright section on the upload page is your first line of defense. YouTube’s automatic system checks your video against its database for any potential copyright infringements. If a recording company or another content owner flags your video, you may need to address these claims.

One way to ensure that your video is clear of copyright issues is to check your audio or video content against reports by other individuals. You can also follow the Copyright tab and give it some time. Sometimes, copyright flags can be manually added long after the upload. If you encounter a flag, try reaching out to the content owner or the content owner's support email. I have successfully managed to get a flag removed from a video using this method.

Be cautious of Content ID systems (CS) owned by media companies, as they can sometimes be fraudulent. If you receive a claim from a CS, dispute it by providing any evidence that the content belongs to someone else.

Automatic Copyright Claims After Publishing

It's also important to note that YouTube sends notifications via the Content tab in YouTube Studio, both on mobile and desktop. The warning triangle will alert you to any copyright issues. If you publish the video before the copyright processing is completed, these issues may still appear.

In summary, navigating copyright claims on YouTube requires vigilance and attention to detail. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can avoid the pitfalls of copyright infringement and ensure your content is legally clear for public viewing.