How to Avoid Copyright on YouTube

In the quest to post original content on YouTube channels, YouTubers unknowingly run into situations that earn them some copyright infringements. A borrowed picture, a piece of video, or a piece of music used in original content – if not borrowed in the proper ways – earn YouTubers violations of copyright on the platform.  

These copyright violations YouTubers incur have consequences on their YouTube revenue and can also incur some legal implications. If you are a YouTuber or aspire to be one, it is essential to educate yourself with everything there is to know about YouTube copyright.

Protect your ability to monetize and earn from your YouTube channel. Learning how to avoid copyright on YouTube is a good place to start. But what does a copyright claim mean on YouTube? Does a YouTube copyright claim against you disrupt a YouTube career? Let’s figure it out!

And when you’re finished, take a look at our other YouTube guides:

• Things to Know About Copyright and YouTube
• How to Use Music From YouTube Audio Library

Can You Use Copyrighted Music on YouTube?

The short answer to this is yes, you can. But that all depends on whether you have done all the necessary actions before using the said copyrighted music.

YouTube strictly upholds that creators only upload videos that they have created or use video material that they have the authorization to use. To use copyrighted music, you must pass all requirements first.

The requirements to use and upload copyrighted music are as follows:

1. Get the approval of the original creator – Ask permission and proof of this permission from the original owners of the copyrighted music you plan to use in your YouTube videos. 
2. Pay the original owners of the copyrighted music – Make sure the original creators receive proper royalties for your use of their music. 
3. Give credit to the original owners of music you use – Edit in explicit written graphics that give credit to the original owners of copyrighted music you use in your YouTube uploads. Do a credit graphic siting the original owners during their music is played, or include them in the credit roll at the end of your video.

How YouTube Copyright Works

Copyright exists on the YouTube platform to protect all its creators. It safeguards original owners of video and audio material from being used on the platform without proper recognition and compensation.

Violators that incur 3 copyright strikes within 90 days on YouTube are given the corresponding punishment of being terminated on YouTube. The offender’s channel and all associated YouTube channels will be permanently deleted.

A very steep penalty can be easily avoided if you just follow the right steps in uploading audio and video content on your YouTube channel.

Upon incurring your first copyright strike, YouTube sends you to Copyright School. Copyright school is an online learning course that you should personally attend for several days. For every strike you get, YouTube also temporarily suspends your ability to monetize your channel. Furthermore, getting a copyright infringement during a live stream cancels your right to live stream for the next 7 days.

YouTube also gives you a chance to file a counter appeal via a counter-notification to have YouTube review the merits of your supposed copyright infringement.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Here is a list of other questions that you may have about YouTube Copyright:

1.       Q: How do I check if my YouTube channel has a copyright strike?

A: Go to your YouTube Studio profile on your YouTube account and check if your YouTube uploads include a ‘Restrictions’ column that itemizes uploads that have incurred copyright strikes. 

2.       Q: What can I do if I incur a copyright strike?

A: You can appeal and contest your infraction if you believe the copyright claims against you are unfounded. If you have not violated any copyright claim on YouTube, the platform will deem you cleared and will not flag you with any copyright strikes. 

You can also trim and edit out the section of your upload of the offending segment. For music copyright infractions, you can mute the music that incurs the copyright strike. 

3.       Q: What is Fair Use?

A: Fair use is a claim that lets content creators use audio or video safely, even without permission and proper royalties. You can claim fair use of other people’s original content if you use them in your YouTube videos for 3 things:

• Criticism – To objectively critique the copyrighted content’s qualities.
• Commentary – Voicing out an opinion about the copyrighted content you use.
• Parody – To poke fun at something without any malice. 

4.       Q: Can I file a copyright strike against other content creators?

A: Yes, of course. You can submit a copyright takedown request to YouTube if you believe someone broke the platform’s rules. Submitting this request starts a whole legal process and be ready to undertake it.               

How Not to Get Copyright Strikes on YouTube

Here are some useful habits you can employ as a YouTube content creator to avoid getting copyright strikes:

1. Upload only original content – This is the easiest way to avoid copyright strikes and claims. If all you upload are original audio and visual content that you create yourself, then you will never incur any copyright strikes. If ever anyone files a copyright claim against your content, you will always win out in the end. 
2. Use only royalty-free music – There are a lot of sites that offer royalty-free music that you can use for free on your YouTube videos. YouTube has its own YouTube audio library where you can find a lot of free music. 
3. Utilize Fair Use – Including copyrighted content for criticism, parodies, or commentary should not get you any copyright strikes on YouTube.

In Conclusion 

Copyright on YouTube may seem to give you a harder time uploading content, but remember that it is in place to protect all creators, including you. There will come a time that your more popular videos may want to be used by unscrupulous creators. These YouTube copyright laws ensure that you get compensated and credited properly.