Copyright match tool on Youtube – the newest addition to the copyright management family of YouTube.
The Google-owned company rolled out the first beta version for this new copyright tool in 2018.
Now, it is available to enlarge. But what does it do? Here is everything you need to know about the new copyright match tool!
What does it do for me?
Until recently, copyright management on YouTube could only be accessed over the Content Id system.
Read here about YouTube’s Content Id!
The copyright match tool is a new attempt to open technology for more people. Important to realize, Content Id is very hard to access for the everyday creator.
It mainly is in use with Multi-Channel-Networks or big players. The problem is, you have to prove to Google that your content is your own original content.
If you are part of a MCN, your provider can upload your back catalogue to the Content Id systems.
Subsequently, all new uploads get a scan against the so-called fingerprint data.
The copyright match tool uses the same technology that powers the Content Id system.
What can I do with the copyright match tool?
There are three actions you can take through the copyright match tool. A copyright claim will happen if someone else is re-uploading your content in full or large parts of it.
Then, you can choose what to do. You can either issue a removal of the content, you can contact the other creator or simply ignore the situation.
A major difference to Content Id is that you can’t monetize duplicate content. You have literally only these three options.
Who can participate in the copyright match tool?
In order to participate, you would need to be eligible for the YouTube Partner Program.
Read here for more information about the YouTube Partner Program.
In short, you need 1000 subscribers to your YouTube Channel. As well as 4000 valid watch hours over the last 12 months.
Valid watch hours come only from videos on YouTube that are public. However, is a video private, these watch hours will not count towards your goal.
Once you hit the threshold, you’ll need to sign the Partner Agreement. What is more, you will need to sign up with Google AdSense as well.
This is necessary because all advertising of Google is working through a Google AdSense account.
Important facts about the copyright match tool
Your claim to the content is starting by the date that you upload the video yourself. It’s a bit like first come first serve.
The new system in itself is working with on a reactive approach. This means nothing happens until you decide to take action.
Then you have the previously mentioned three options. Another big factor to think about is the handling of copyright issues.
In Content Id, when there is a copyright claim to a video, it really only affects this one video. A copyright strike is only for major problems.
In contrast, with the copyright match tool, a copyright match claim represents a copyright strike. This is because of the precautions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
A copyright strike can hurt a YouTube channel badly, you can lose out on monetization, or the algorithm is not favouring you anymore.
What’s next?
As seen with the rollout of the copyright match tool, Google tries to come up with more solutions for the copyright issue on YouTube. Splitting the Content Id systems into two different approaches will work for now.
However, it remains to be seen if this is really is the way forward. Surely, all copyright holder should be treated as equal.
If you make a difference between who can have access to what limit of copyright management you also differentiating copyright in itself.
However, one must not forget that at the end of the day, Google is still a private company that can do pretty much whatever it wants with its companies policy.
Hopefully, the copyright match tool will at least be for the benefit of the creators making YouTube what it is. One of the biggest entertainment platforms on the internet.