What happens if I use a copyrighted song as background music for a home video I want to upload to YouTube
YouTube has various tools for protecting copyrighted material, but what happens depends on the music and who owns it. If no one lays a claim to the audio, your video is unlikely to be affected, but YouTube uses software called Content ID that scans uploaded videos and compares them to a database of music and video files supplied by copyright holders (often large entertainment companies) who own the rights to those recordings. The “content owner†here can decide in advance what to do if a match comes up between a user’s uploaded video and a song on file in the Content ID database.
The actions may vary by country and licensing laws, but a video that gets flagged by the Content ID system could be muted or blocked outright. Some content owners may opt for a “Track†setting that does not interfere with the video’s visibility or playback on YouTube, but does send them viewership statistics. Content owners can also choose a “Monetize†option that sticks ads on the video that generate payments.
If a video you upload trips the Content ID system, YouTube notifies you in the Copyright Notices area of your account. In some cases, it might be possible to remove the restricted song from the video (or replace it with another tune), as the site explains here.
In addition to Content ID database matches, YouTube also responds to specific removal requests from copyright holders. If you have used a legally protected piece of music or video in your clip and YouTube removes it after completing the request, the site slaps your account with a “copyright strike.†Getting a copyright strike may cause you to lose some YouTube perks like the ability to upload videos longer than 15 minutes. Deleting the clip does not remove the strike against your account. As in baseball, if you get three strikes, you are out â€" of YouTube, anyway. The site suspends your account and deletes your uploaded videos.
If you just get one strike, you can restore your good account standing after six months with no further violations and a trip through YouTube’s Copyright School tutorial. The site has a frequently-asked-questions page about its approach to copyright issues and a help guide to copyright and rights management that may be useful for more information on the topic.
