Some copyright owners can use a system called Content ID to easily identify and manage their content on YouTube.
Videos that are uploaded to YouTube get scanned against a database of videos that have been submitted to us by copyright owners. Copyright owners can choose different actions to take on videos that match theirs:
- Block a whole video from being viewed
- Monetize the video by running ads against it and sometimes sharing revenue with the uploader
- Track the video’s viewership statistics
When a match is found, the video gets a Content ID claim and one of the 3 actions above is applied to the claimed video.
Any of these actions can be geography-specific. A video may be monetized in one country and blocked or tracked in another.
YouTube only grants Content ID to copyright owners who meet specific criteria. To be approved, they must own exclusive rights to a substantial body of original material that is frequently uploaded by the YouTube creator community.
YouTube also sets explicit guidelines on how to use Content ID. We monitor Content ID use and disputes on an ongoing basis to make sure these guidelines are followed.
Copyright owners who repeatedly make erroneous claims can have their Content ID access disabled and their partnership with YouTube terminated.
If you're a copyright owner and believe your content meets the criteria for Content ID, you can begin by filling out this form to let us know more about your copyright management needs.