In the world of copyright, most disputes aren't as straightforward as someone claiming you used their content. There can be a number of complicated moving parts when it comes to digital rights management and your responsibilities and obligations as a YouTube creator.

As a content creator or viewer on YouTube, you must have come across the terms 'copyright claim' and 'copyright strike.' They are both related to copyright infringement, but there are some significant differences between the two. Today, we'll discuss how they are different but let's start from the basics.

 This post is an overview of how copyright works on YouTube. Please consult a lawyer if you need advice on a specific case.

 is a legal right that grants creators of original work exclusive rights to use and distribute their creations. This right applies to various types of creative works, including music, videos, images, and literary works. In simpler terms, it means that the creator has the right to control how their work is used, distributed, and monetized.

Unsurprisingly, YouTube serious about copyright infringement. The platform has 

 that match copyright policies in the U.S. (and presumably beyond), and it states very clearly that:

“Creators should only upload videos that they have made or that they’re authorized to use. Users should not upload videos that they didn’t make or use content in videos that someone else owns without necessary authorizations."

So, with that warning in mind, let's take a more detailed look at claims and strikes.

What Does Copyright Claim Mean on YouTube?

A copyright claim is a notification sent by YouTube's Content ID system. It occurs when a portion of a channel owner's video matches another copyrighted work. That creator can then decide whether to make a claim, depending on whether the video falls under 

, instead of submitting a copyright takedown notice. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

A YouTube copyright claim will not adversely affect your channel.

The rights holder can claim the revenue on your video if you have used their content.

The copyright holder can place ads on your video to generate that revenue.

The copyright holder can restrict your video in some countries or regions.

The copyright holder may also choose to take no action (but absolutely don’t rely on that!)

Copyright claims are a part of Copyright Law.

They only apply to the videos flagged and not the entire channel

A claim can be proven false depending upon if you really own the content that is being claimed by someone else.

How to Remove YouTube Copyright Claims From Your Videos

As a general rule, copyright claims on YouTube are made against video clips, audio, and other content that qualifies as owned media and hasn’t been available for publication. Claims are issued to creators if they don't own the TV or music clips, music, or other copyrighted media.

The rights owners have full control of their Content ID policy. Some creators and media publishers always opt to stop certain content from being uploaded to YouTube, like TV clips or music videos. Others allow their content to remain published on the uploader’s channel but only if some or all of the advertising revenue is funneled back to the copyright owners as compensation.

That all sounds a little confusing, so let’s break it down.

ContentID claims come with a monetization, tracking, or viewing restriction rule. For the latter, the video may only remain live in certain countries or regions at the rightsholder’s discretion. The owner can also decide to:

Block the entire video from being viewed on YouTube.

Monetize the video by placing ads against it - this might come with the option of a potential revenue share with the uploader.

The rights owner takes 100% of the revenue share from ads. The creator can still keep the video up but they won’t generate any revenue from that upload.

Track the video’s viewership stats which disables any monetization and lets the owner see how well your video is performing in case they choose to claim any revenue in the future.

YouTube itself has a handy guide for the options 

 Not everyone can access the Content ID feature. YouTube has very specific criteria for rights owners who want to track their content. Find out 

What to Do if There's a Copyright Claim on Your Video

In order to resolve and remove a copyright claim, the uploader will need to dispute it. Once the claim has been formally disputed by the uploader, the rights owner then has 

 to that appeal with the option of either:

Releasing the claim if they find evidence that the uploader does in fact have permission to use the material (as is often the case when a creator uses a music track licensed through a third party like 

Rejecting the dispute and upholding the claim because they believe they still have a strong and valid case

Receiving a copyright claim takedown request can lead to a copyright strike against a YouTube channel. Even if the ownership of the video is being disputed, it can still make money, which will be stored in a separate account until the disagreement is settled.

The rights owner has 30 days to respond to the dispute. They can choose to release their claim, take down the video, or set up a delayed takedown. The uploader then has 7 days to retract their appeal.

Here is Rob, YouTuber-in-residence at vidIQ, explaining how to deal with copyright claims:

A YouTube copyright strike, also known as a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) strike, is a warning issued by YouTube to a channel owner for violating the platform's copyright policy. It occurs when a creator notifies YouTube that their content has been used without their permission. The copyright owner can request that the video be removed, or they can choose to monetize it.

PSA: You do NOT want to attract any copyright strikes against your channel!

A copyright strike is issued when a rights owner requests the legal removal of a video on YouTube because the uploader didn’t have permission to use their images, audio, or video clips. As you can see from the image above (

), a strike differs significantly from a claim.

Copyright strikes are manual and are activated when a rights owner files a DMCA takedown request. The owner must supply YouTube with specific information regarding the takedown which includes:

The rightsholder’s contact information.

A thorough description of the material the owner wants to protect.

A sworn statement of good faith belief that the material (a video clip, a gif, an image, etc.) has been used without express permission.

After a DMCA takedown notice request is filed by the rights owner, YouTube has to remove the video in question from the uploader’s channel. That creator is notified, and they can either file a counter-notice or accept the takedown decision.

If the video is taken down following a manual claim, the creator’s channel will receive a copyright strike. Oh, and deleting the offending video will not resolve the strike. The first strike can have a negative impact on channel features like live streaming and monetization. However, creators have the opportunity to redeem themselves by completing YouTube's Copyright School within 90 days.

If you receive a second strike before the first one expires, your account will remain out of good standing for another 90 days. If you receive a third strike before the first two expire, your account will be terminated, and all uploaded videos will be removed. Additionally, you may face legal challenges and be required to pay legal fees and fines if you lose the case.

 is someone asserting that you have used their content, whether that be a video clip, an image, or a piece of audio. A 

 is much more serious for a YouTube creator, and your channel can be suspended for repeated copyright offenses.

The difference between copyright takedowns and Content ID claims

The legal issues all YouTube creators need to know about

The expert's guide to Fair Use & copyright on YouTube

How to get royalty-free music for your YouTube videos

YouTube logo and statue of a woman balancing scales

YouTubers, do you know the difference between a copyright claim and a copyright strike? If not, find out right now.

Copyright Claims vs. Copyright Strikes: Here's the Difference

Royalty-free music isn’t a perk reserved for large creators. YouTubers of all sizes need 

 to make better content and attract more viewers.

Think about it: Have you watched a video that seemed OK, but everything improved once the music kicked in? At that moment, you probably felt the “cinematic mood” as the music paced the story.

Well, viewers can feel that, too. They might not leave a comment saying so, but there’s a reason polished videos get significant views. And that reason alone is why you should 

find royalty-free music for YouTube content

If a song is royalty-free, you don't need to pay 

 it's used in a video.  At most, you'd pay a one-time fee to use the song if it's not free already.

By doing this, you'll skip the hassle of dealing with copyright holders and reduce copyright claims and strikes on your channel.

What's the Difference Between a Copyright Claim and a Copyright Strike?

If that sounds good to you, here’s your guide for finding high-quality stock music.

Did you know there’s a YouTube library of free music? This resource is from YouTube itself and pretty much guarantees you won’t use copyrighted music. Every sound in the collection is copyright-free and ready to download.

Use the menu tabs to switch between free music, sound effects, and favorite tracks. You can also search for music by title, genre, mood, artist name, duration, and attribution requirements.

Click the play button to hear what a track sounds like.

Ready to download from the YouTube audio library? Hover your mouse over any track and click 

As a creator, you’re allowed to use these tracks and continue 

There’s a good selection of music, too: jazz, rock, reggae, pop, folk, country music, and other genres. Just make sure you don't distribute the music yourself or use it in illegal content.

Best Royalty-Free Music Sites for YouTube

The free music library on YouTube is helpful, but some people just need 

They might want royalty-free background music that sounds better, uses different instruments, or creates a specific vibe.

If that sounds like you, it’s time to find a music website and pay for original tracks. This isn’t the same as paying for 

Here are the best royalty-free music sites:

The sites above require a little cash, but that’s better than going to risky sites to find free music.

Technically, an artist offering royalty-free music (for free) could change their mind in the future. After that, what’s stopping them from slapping a copyright claim on your video?

It’s not a common situation, and people usually aren’t that sneaky. But there’s a slight chance it could happen. To protect yourself, we suggest using royalty-free music from YouTube directly or paying a small fee for original music.

Now that you have some royalty-free jams, learn how to 

Do you want to add royalty-free music to your YouTube videos? Here’s how to find the perfect tunes and take your channel to the next level.

How to Get Royalty Free Music for Your YouTube Videos

Receiving a copyright claim affects your ability to make money on YouTube. But the exact ramifications are somewhat of a mystery. Can you join the YouTube Partner Program with active copyright claims? Or will an automatic rejection be hurled your way?

YouTube Partner Program: How to Monetize Your Channel

Many creators have unintentionally used copyrighted content, so it's a question worth answering. 

 guilty of using another person's work. YouTube handles this in two ways: 

Copyright 101: YouTube Claims vs. Strikes

So what does a copyright claim mean on YouTube?

 when your video contains media protected by copyright. That could be music, a movie clip, images, a speech – virtually anything that doesn't belong to you or you don't have permission to use. 

YouTube's Content ID system looks for media matches as soon as you upload a video. 

If it finds a match, you're alerted on the spot and have several options going forward:

How to Get Rid of Copyright Claims on YouTube

When you receive a copyright claim, YouTube, as a third party, is saying:

You can use the copyright-protected content

, but the owner has the option to earn ad revenue from your video.

The copyright owner can restrict the viewing of the video

Ultimately, the copyright owner can choose to do nothing.

 But that doesn't mean you'll end up making money from the video.

 means the owner of the intellectual property you're using isn't playing around.

The copyright owner is asserting their rights and can have your YouTube video removed.

You may not be able to monetize your videos.

If the copyright strike is on a live stream, you may lose streaming privileges for 90 days.

YouTube will terminate your channel after three copyright strikes.

And the consequences might not end there. In extreme cases, you could find yourself in legal hot water and have to defend yourself in court.

Copyright laws are complicated. Watch this video to learn more about YouTube claims and strikes. 

It's also worth mentioning that non-monetized channels can receive copyright claims and strikes. And you don't need any views or subscribers to find yourself in trouble. All it takes is one video with copyrighted material.

Monetizing a YouTube Channel with Copyright Claims

Now that you have some background, we can finally answer this question: 

Can you monetize a channel that has copyright claims?

As usual, it's never a black or white answer when it comes to YouTube. But the platform has clear requirements for applying to the YouTube Partner Program, and we can start there to get our answer.

Accumulating 4,000 Watch Time hours in a 12-month period.

Complying with all of YouTube's rules – 

Having a Google AdSense account linked to your channel.

Living in a country where the YouTube Partner Program is available to creators.  

If you just needed the first two requirements, applying would be easy. But you need to comply with 

 rule to monetize your channel – and those rules include copyright policies.

Because everything is so complex, YouTube uses human reviewers to assess every channel.

A human reviewer will look for these things when checking your channel:

Video metadata, like descriptions, thumbnails, and titles

It's not a complete list of everything YouTube looks for. But in terms of copyright claims and how they'll affect your application, 

So, yes: You have a better chance of monetizing your channel if your most-viewed videos don't have copyright claims.

Applying to the YouTube Partner Program with Copyright Claims

Let's say you have 10 videos on your channel, and one of them has a copyright claim. The video in question is pretty popular and accounts for 60% of your channel's Watch Time. 

Now, imagine the reason your video got so much attention is because you used copyrighted content.

 reached 4,000 hours of Watch Time within the spirit of YouTube's monetization program? After all, you used someone else's content for a massive push.

Make Money on YouTube - How to Get 4,000 Hours of Watch Time

On the flip side, let's say a creator has hundreds of videos on their channel, and four or five of them have copyright claims. But those videos account for just 20 to 30 hours of the channel's total Watch Time. The human reviewer at YouTube is probably going to recognize that as nothing to be concerned about.

And to be clear, this is hypothetical. I'm not saying this as fact; I'm just putting myself in YouTube's shoes.

So if you have a copyright claim or strike on your channel, will you be rejected from the YouTube Partner Program 100% of the time? No, but bear in mind that copyright strikes are severe.

If your channel has no copyright claims or strikes, will you automatically be accepted into the YouTube Partner Program? Again, no. You have to consider the other community guidelines too.

YouTube Partner Program: Being Rejected Because of Copyright Claims

If you use someone else's content enough to annoy YouTube, they will reject your application to the YouTube Partner Program via email. The platform may use 

There is a silver lining, though. You can reapply after 30 days, and in that time, you can fix some of the issues that might've led to your rejection.

At the same time, YouTube won't tell you specifically what's wrong with your channel. It might list a particular video that needs to be removed or ask you to get rid of some copyright-claimed videos. Either way, you have to work it out yourself.

Want to avoid copyright claims on YouTube? Use original content that belongs to you as much as possible. You won't have anything to worry about if you stick to the content you've created yourself.

Did you know that avoiding copyright claims can also help you avoid YouTube demonetization? Here are 14 ways to make as much money as possible on YouTube.

What happens when you get a copyright claim on YouTube? Will it stop you from joining the YouTube Partner Program and monetizing your channel? Use our handy guide to find out now.

YouTube Copyright Claims: Can I Still Monetize My Channel?

YouTube copyright claims are discouraging but necessary. These alerts, which are extremely common, let you know when you’ve used someone else's content in your video. Before the consequences get serious, it’s good to know when you’ve overstepped your bounds as a creator.

The violations that trip up some creators are quite common. Content that includes video clips, images, or audio you haven’t produced yourself will likely spark a copyright claim. Fortunately, you can remove these alerts. All you have to do is substitute copyrighted content for original content you own.

, which means the copyright owner submitted a legal takedown request for the video. Collecting three strikes is serious. At that point, YouTube will terminate your channel and bar you from creating another one.

Copyright claims aren’t as devastating as strikes, but they do feel like a speed bump in the YouTube journey. That’s because...

You can lose monetization for your video.

YouTube may restrict viewing to certain countries. 

Want to reduce the number of copyright claims on your channel? YouTube just gave creators the best gift ever. It’s a feature that warns you, before publishing a video, that a copyright match was found.

How to Check a YouTube Video for Copyright Claims

Uploading a YouTube video requires several steps. Before your content goes live, you'll give it a title, thumbnail, description, keywords, and other elements to help people find and watch the video.

an extra step that happens automatically.

 YouTube will inspect your content to see if it contains copyrighted material. This happens when you reach the 

This is a game-changer. YouTube’s copyright checker tells you how long the process will take, and it reports copyright matches before you hit publish. At that point, you can choose the best course of action. That may be disputing the claim or taking steps to remove it.

On the same upload page, you can view the impact a copyright claim has on your channel. Click 

Here's what you may see after expanding the details

Restrict people from viewing the video in certain countries

Make the video ineligible for monetization

the copyright holder can monetize the video

 for their financial gain. Ads may appear on the video, but the revenue goes to the copyright holder – not us. That's the price of using someone else's content. Still, it’s better than receiving copyright strikes and nearly losing a channel that took years to grow.

Removing or Disputing a YouTube Copyright Claim

If you decide to move forward and upload the video, you can remove or dispute its copyright claim.

Two questions will appear: “Remove claimed content?” or “Do you have rights to this content?” Beneath the first question, you’ll see options for fixing the copyright claim. If your video contains copyrighted music, for example, you can 

If you own the rights to the content, navigate to 

“Do you have rights to this content?”

Need extra guidance? Watch the video below for detailed steps:

You have some flexibility with copyrighted music, but copyrighted video footage has to be removed. Simply delete that part of your video and re-upload the new version from scratch.

Ready to Publish Your Video? Here’s Why You Should Wait.

Imagine this. You’ve brainstormed a video idea, done some keyword research, and spent hours filming. You’ve edited everything for maximum clarity. Viewers have been asking for the video, so you know it's going to do well. That makes you excited – elated, even – to upload the video and 

On the upload page, you add everything the video needs – a title, thumbnail, description, and keywords – to reach full optimization. You even pass the copyright check without a hitch. Your next instinct is to publish the video because well, why not?

We know what you may be thinking. Didn’t YouTube “finish” processing the video within minutes? That’s what YouTube reports, but it's not the full story. Things are happening in the background, which means you should 

wait two hours before publishing a video.

 so YouTube has time to report accurate information about your video.

Assuming you haven’t already, you can save most of your optimizing for this waiting period. You can:

Optimize your video’s title and thumbnail.

And on YouTube’s end, there will be extra time to:

Continue checking the video for copyright claims.

Identify things that violate advertising guidelines (so you can make money).

Process your video so it plays at the highest quality.

Keeping your channel in good standing is rule number one for successful creators. In addition to avoiding copyright claims, never make these 

Are you tired of getting YouTube copyright claims? With this simple guide, you can remove or even prevent them from appearing on your channel.

We all want to use the latest commercial music or a track from our favorite artist in our YouTube videos. But we also want to do it the right way, without fear of attracting any copyright strikes.

So how do you do that? Someone who knows everything there is to know about the music industry and YouTube is the Founder and CEO of Lickd, Paul Sampson. 

 is a chart-music licensing platform for video creators and Paul has spent over 15 years creating revenue with music licensing. In this episode of TubeTalk you will learn:


The differences between royalty-free vs copyright claims-free vs production music vs commercial music

How the YouTube copyright system actually works from a brand's point of view

Who gets the money if your video is claimed

Why you should NEVER use Royalty-free music from Soundcloud

How to legally use your favorite artist's track in your next video

 for the very latest news around copyright & music.

Want to Know More About Copyright Issues?

Can you take somebody else's music and use it in the background of your video as long as you credit them in the description? Do you really know your rights when it comes to your content and what you can and cannot do? 

Find out more about the wonderful world of copyright in 

our expert's guide to Fair Use & copyright on YouTube

is one of the most respected and listened to podcasts in the online video industry

. Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to TubeTalk on your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode!

You can also find the complete list of all the 

 Hands up who wants to use a track from their favorite artist in their YouTube video but doesn't want a copyright strike? Find out how to use copyrighted music legally in this episode of TubeTalk.

How to Use Copyright Music on YouTube Completely Legally

Creators can run into all sorts of problems regarding copyright issues on YouTube if they don't fully understand the licensing rules behind using audio, images, or other video content created by others.

There a million reasons why YouTubers shouldn't use ANY content that wasn't created by themselves or their teams or wasn't properly licensed through the official channels. And no, '

' isn't always a viable defense, and neither is pasting a 'this content doesn't belong to me' disclaimer into your YouTube description. If you're using content for your own videos and haven't obtained permission from the rightful owner you are in for a world of pain.

YouTube has a new tool that allows creators to quickly remove any content that's subject to a copyright claim without having to take their whole video down.

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