Remove Copyright Claim on YouTube (Takes 15 Seconds!)

Last updated on January 31st, 2023 at 11:03 am

YouTube is unarguably the most popular video content platform in the world.

Since its creation in 2005, it has amassed hundreds of trillions of views and engagements from users. The platform powerhouse is currently among the top five most widely visited sites.

How to Remove Copyright Claim on YouTube

Its strength lies in its ability to link up creatives and users across the world. 

However, the issue of content theft and plagiarism has become rife on YouTube and many other platforms.

This article will explore an easy way anyone can remove copyright claims from their YouTube videos.

I will examine what copyright infringement is and how YouTube views the issue.

See Also: How to Unlock the Community Tab on YouTube

 

What Happens if You Get a Copyright Claim on YouTube?

YouTube allows copyright owners to set Content ID in order to prevent uploads that correspond to the copyrighted work they own.

This allows the claimed content to stay on YouTube with ads.

What this means is that the advertising revenue generated from such copyrighted content will be sent to the owners of the claimed content.

 

What Defines Copyright Infringement on YouTube?

Before we explore how to remove copyright claims on YouTube, let’s clarify the type of content that is safeguarded by copyright.

Generally, when someone makes original content and uploads it to a physical channel, they usually own the copyright to it right away, whether it’s a song, a video clip, a piece of writing, a piece of art or a computer game.

So, copyright gives creators the right to sell, distribute, and/or change their own work in any way they want.

However, if you upload a YouTube video that features somebody’s work, you will certainly infringe on their copyright.

Simply put, if you make use of video recordings, clips, soundtracks, or any other form of creative media without getting the authorization of the owner, you are violating YouTube’s copyright policy.

See Also: Top 21 YouTube Shorts Ideas to get More Views & Subscribers

 

What are the Copyright Rules on YouTube?

YouTube has a weeny bit more complex copyright rules than video creators tend to think.

Since copyright infringement is shrouded in legality, it would be helpful to have a basic understanding of this rule.

But before we explore the steps one can take to remove a copyright claim on YouTube, let’s intricately analyze the way the platform enforces its copyright rules: 

 

Seeking Permission

Receiving the owner’s authorization or permission is among the best methods of lawfully using content that is protected by copyright.

YouTube is never going to hand over the rights directly to you or contact the owners on your behalf. You’d have to trace and get in touch with the owner of the copyrighted material.

Sometimes, it may involve a lawyer. 

 

Fair use

Fair use is a legal principle that permits anyone to make use of content protected by copyright without the owner’s consent.

There are very specific scenarios where the fair use principle applies, and it tremendously varies from one jurisdiction to another.

At the point of litigation, the courts use the specificity of the case to make pronouncements. 

For instance, in the United States, only the judgments of the court can determine whether a given case qualifies for the fair use principle.

The judge uses four criteria to establish this. They include: 

  • The aim and manner of use: If the aim of using copyrighted material is commercial, it won’t be regarded as fair use.
  • The type of the copyrighted material: factual materials are more likely to be regarded as fair use than artistic or fictional materials.
  • The extent to which copyrighted material is used: limited use of copyrighted material is more likely to be regarded as fair use than the usage of a vast proportion of the material.
  • The cost implication or the value effect of the copyrighted material: it’s the question of whether the profitability or commercial value of the material is negatively affected. If this is in the affirmative, then it won’t be considered fair use.

Before trying to remove a copyright claim on YouTube, we advise that you endeavour to check if your case is eligible for fair use.

This will give you some legal backing. YouTube may also request you to review your content and ensure that it is under fair use.

The reason is that lots of creators make takedown applications seeking to remove copyright claims. 

See Also: How to See Who Watched Your YouTube Video

 

Copyright Claim vs Copyright Strikes

Understandably, receiving a copyright claim can be demoralizing, but it is important.

These claims are put in place to draw your attention whenever you make use of another creator’s original material in your video.

They are pretty commonplace on YouTube. It’s always nice to be aware when you’ve infringed on someone’s right as a creator. 

Every video creator makes these sorts of mistakes. Whenever you use someone else’s original content in your sound clip or vlog channel, you’ll definitely receive a copyright claim.

But the good news is that they can be removed. The fastest way to clear them off is to swap the copyrighted material with your unique content. 

At least receiving a copyright claim is better than the dreaded “copyright strike”. The latter, which is backed by the law, is a request for the video to be removed.

If you have received up to three strikes, it can have grave consequences for your YouTube channel. At this stage, there’s a high likelihood that YouTube will deactivate your channel and restrict you from setting up another page. 

Copyright claims are less harsh than copyright strikes, but they can frustrate your life as a YouTuber because:

  • You might be unable to monetize your video.
  • Your video viewership will be very limited.
  • And much more.

In this section, we will explore how to reduce the occurrence of copyright claims on your YouTube channels.

Did you know that there is an effective tool on YouTube that notifies you about a copyright match before posting any video?

Read more about it below. 

 

How to Check for Copyright Claims in a YouTube Video

To upload your video on YouTube, you’d have to undergo some processes.

You’ll have to provide your content with a title, insert a thumbnail, and add keywords, descriptions, and other attributes to increase the visibility and appeal of the video. 

However, there’s a new step in the process that takes place automatically. YouTube will scan your video to check if it is copyrighted.

You can find this functionality in the “checks” tab. 

This is a massive development. Before you click the publish button, YouTube’s copyright checker informs you of the time frame in which the process will be completed and notifies you of copyright matches.

When you have this information, you can begin to strategize about what to do next — to refute the copyright claim or work towards removing it. 

See Also: What is Instant Premiere on YouTube? How to Use it

 

How to Remove Copyright Claim on YouTube

If you wish to proceed, you can either dispute or remove the YouTube video.

To begin, do the following:

  • Ensure you’ve reached the “checks” tab during the process of uploading.
  • Tap the “Select” option in the lower area below the action header.
  • You will see two question prompts: “Do you have rights to this content” or “Remove claimed content.” You can also access options to rectify the copyright claim below. For instance, if your content has a copyrighted sound clip, you can change or “silence” it.
  • If you have the legal authority to use the content, then select “Do you have rights to this content?”.

For copyrighted music or sound clips, you can make some tweaks here and there. On the other hand, copyrighted video clips would have to be outrightly removed.

You will have to remove that segment from your YouTube video and replace it with your unique version.

That’s how to get rid of a copyright claim on YouTube.

 

Why You Should Wait Before Publishing your YouTube Video

Think of this. You have spent hours strategizing and developing a video idea, carried out extensive keyword research, and invested time and resources in videotaping.

The video output has been edited in a creative and appealing way.

The video topic has plenty of buzz around it, and you are already assured it will be popular with your target audience.

Everything you have done gives you a sense of excitement and elation; you can’t wait to publish the video and start monitoring it. 

To fully create a successful video, you have to improve every part of it. This includes the optimization of its description, keywords, thumbnail, and title.

You don’t have a problem with the copyright check. Your next step will be to click “publish.”

But here’s why you should hold on.

 

Processing a Video on YouTube is Time-Consuming

Of course, we understand your perspective. You might think, “but YouTube has “completed” the video processing minutes ago.”

Although YouTube fuels the notion, it’s not totally true. A lot of things are taking place in the background.

Thus, we advise that you hold on for two hours before you publish your YouTube video.

Configure the privacy status of your video to “Unlisted”. This will give YouTube ample time to provide reliable data about your video. 

At this time, there’s a lot you can do to ensure your video is properly optimized. This includes: 

  • Ensure the title and thumbnail of your video are appealing enough.
  • Add engaging cards and video outros. 
  • Create an interesting description and use the right keyword. 
  • On the part of YouTube, there will be plenty of time to:
  • Carry out a more extensive check for copyright claims.
  • Find elements that may go against the advertising guidelines (for effective monetization of your video).
  • Improve your video quality. 

Ensuring your YouTube channel is in top condition is highly important.

See Also: How to Upload YouTube Shorts From PC & Mobile

 

How to Remove Copyright Claim on YouTube FAQs

 

How many days does it take YouTube to take down a video with a copyright claim?

A YouTube video with a copyright claim is usually removed after seven days.

Whenever a copyright holder notices that their original content is uploaded on YouTube without their permission, they can submit a takedown request for the material.

Upon validation of the request, the uploader will be given a seven-day video removal notification by YouTube.

If they refuse to remove the video, they will be given a copyright strike, and the video will be deleted at the expiration of seven days. 

 

How do I fix Copyright Claim on YouTube?

To fix a copyright claim on YouTube, simply follow the steps below:

  • Make sure you’ve reached the “checks” tab during the process of uploading your video on YouTube.
  • Click the “Select” option in the lower area underneath the action header.
  • You will be promoted with two questions: “Do you have rights to this content” or “Remove claimed content.” You can also access options to fix the copyright claim below. For example, if your content has a copyrighted sound clip, you can change or “silence” it.
  • If you have the legal right to use the content, then select “Do you have rights to this content?”

That’s how you fix and remove copyright claims on YouTube.

See Also: How to Tell if a Song is Copyrighted on YouTube

 

Is it right to delete a copyright claim video?

Yes. If you have been notified that the YouTube video has copyrighted materials and your account hasn’t received a copyright strike, then remove the video. That’s the best thing to do. 

 

Does having copyright claim affect monetization?

Does copyright claim or copyright strike affect monetization? The answer is no. However, note that it’s a serious offence.

When your YouTube channel is copyright claims and copyright strike free, you can easily be accepted into the YouTube Partner Program.

 

How can I remove copyright from a song?

To remove the copyright from a song on YouTube, either delete it completely or silence it. There’s a feature on YouTube that allows you to silence music on videos.

 

Would copyright claims negatively influence your views?

Absolutely not. A copyright claim differs considerably from a copyright strike. It won’t negatively affect your YouTube channel.

See Also: How to Clear YouTube Search History on PC

 

How do I stop copyright claims on YouTube?

To stop copyright claims on YouTube, you must follow the best practices and user guidelines. Below are some of the tips to prevent YouTube copyright claims;

  1. Keep your YouTube Video short.
  2. Credit copyrighted work.
  3. Take it out of context.
  4. Optimize the original.
  5. Always attribute your source if any.

 

What happens if you get 3 copyright claims on YouTube?

Getting 3 copyright claims on YouTube is subject to count termination. This includes all associated channels, videos uploaded and subscribers.

Also, you cannot create any new YouTube channel moving forward.

 

Does copyright claim affect views?

Copyright claim does not affect watch time. However, copyright claims may affect your views as they will be limited by YouTube due to the claim.

Also, certain countries may not have access to your video and you cannot monetize it.

See Also: How to Tell if a Song is Copyrighted on YouTube

 

How long does a copyright claim take YouTube?

If a copyright owner discovers their work is uploaded on YouTube without their permission, they may request a takedown on the account.

Once YouTube validates the claim, they give the uploader 7 days period to take down the video and avoid a copyright strike.

After the 7 days and they don’t remove it, YouTube will proceed to take down the video.

 

Do copyright strikes go away?

Copyright strikes do not just go away. It has a 90 days expiration period.

But if it happens to be your first strike, you’re required to complete the Copyright School. Then get a retraction.

Retraction is basically reaching out to the copyright owner and requesting that they retract their claim of copyright infringement.

 

 

Conclusion

YouTube copyright claims can be avoided by using your own unique content. YouTube takes content plagiarism, content theft, and copyright infringement seriously.

Thus, it’s vital to review your videos adequately before you click the “publish” button to avoid copyright strikes. 

 

 

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Harrison Acha is a Digital Marketing Expert, Seasoned Blogger, Facebook Marketing Expert, Writer, SEO Expert, and Digital Content Creator. Have been in the IT industry for more than a decade, and helping both tech and non-tech professionals become more productive and less frustrated with technology. Follow me on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

PrimeGate Digital is a Result Driven Blog that strives to go beyond ‘Conventional Digital Marketing’ through digital innovation and performance marketing. We have experience working with world class brands and products.

 

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