Music is a great way to set the mood in video content, and YouTube video creators take full advantage of this. All is well and good until the content performs well, but when things go awry and you use copyrighted music on YouTube and infringement issues come knocking, suddenly, you are at a loss. Where did it all go wrong, and most importantly, how do you stop these copyright issues from coming around again?
We will cover the whole issue in this guide, so make sure to stick here till the end!
What is Copyright Infringement and Why Should You Be Worried?
If you are a creator on YouTube, then you need to be aware of how strict YouTube is regarding using copyrighted music on YouTube. But we will get there. First, let us understand what copyright is.
Copyright is a legal right that allows musicians to own and earn from the music that they make. And if anybody utilizes their music without the permission of the copyright owner, then the musician can sue them and make them pay, like literally pay a royalty!
And this copyright has a huge lifetime. The copyright stays active 70 years after the original creator dies. So, if you are thinking of waiting till the copyright expires, then we suggest you drop the idea.
But like, why is this such a big deal? Will YouTube actually punish you if you violate these rules? Unfortunately for you, yes!
YouTube is pretty stringent when it comes to implementing copyright rules. Because these are some of the problems you will face if you are found guilty:
- YouTube will mute the audio and remove the video.
- You will not be able to monetize the said video.
- Your channel might get blocked if you are found to be a repeat offender.
- The proceeds of your video could be transferred to the original audio creator as compensation.
So, yeah, the whole issue is pretty serious. Which is why you must have a clear understanding of what kind of music you can or cannot use.
How Can I Use Copyrighted Music in My Video?
To legally use copyrighted music on your video, there are only 2 ways, which are as follows:
1. Get Permission From the Original Creator
This can be a hassle in so many ways. For one, if you want to use an audio that is owned by a record label company, then as a creator, you might not be able to afford their exorbitant prices.
Another major issue is that multiple people own a particular song, such as the music writer, songwriter, label company, publisher, and so on., In such cases, negotiating a fee with every single one of them is just not feasible.
But if you still want to go with this process, here is how you can proceed:
- Find the original owners of the particular music.
- Determine the type of rights you need. For example, some creators have rights to both the song and the studio recording of it. In such cases, getting 2 licences might be necessary.
- Contact the original creators and work out a deal with them.
- Get a written agreement from them confirming their permission.
2. Make Your Own Version
This, too, is a tedious task, but compared to the above, it is pretty easy.
The idea is to hire a musician and create your own version of it. You can easily hire someone from Fiverr or Upwork and get the job done for a fraction of the cost of the above method.
But this way also comes with its own set of disadvantages, which is that the quality and the final output might not turn out as good as you expected them to be.
If you are going with this method, make sure the copyright is signed over to you at the end of the composition.
4 Alternate Ways To Find Music For Your Videos (Non-Copyrighted Of Course!)
Not satisfied with the two options, well, we do not blame you!
But thankfully for us, there are many other hassle-free alternative ways in which you can obtain music for your videos. Here are some of the ways:
1. Stock Music Libraries
Many music libraries allow users to find and choose an audio of their preference and use it as they please (Provided you have a subscription and you attribute the music creator!)
And these libraries provide no shortage of choices, catering to every mood and genre.
2.YouTube Audio Library
If you do not want the hassle of finding websites, getting subscriptions, and choosing and adding music to your video, then YouTube Audio Library can be a godsend for you. YouTube Audio Library only offers copyright-free music, and the platform is free and built into it. This makes it an amazing choice for anyone who is just starting out or wants a quick fix.
Be advised that the trending, popular songs might not be available here, but the options are still pretty good.
3. Use the Creative Commons Licensed Music
Some creators make their music available under the Creative Commons license. This means you can use this music and being stuck with a copyright claim. Although sometimes the creator might ask you to attribute the credits to them.
This is one of the types of copyrighted music on YouTube. The other two being: Licensed and Ad-supported music.
You must already be aware of what Licensed music is. But what are Ad-supported ones?
Ad-supported music is music that is given permission by the creators and record labels to be used in videos. However, the catch here is that any revenue you generate out of these videos will be directly sent to the creator, and you will not receive anything out of it. So, it is generally not a great option!
4. Get AI to generate your own tracks
Nowadays, AI’s technological advancements are honestly spectacular. With its capabilities expanding every single day, there must be an AI that can compose your own songs for you, right?
And there is!
There are many AI music composers out in the world for you to choose from, with even Canva offering one! And the best part is, you do not need an ounce of songwriting skills!
How To Check If My Audio is Copyrighted or Not?
After going through all the trouble of finding an audio and adding it to your video, you are plagued with a doubt. What if this, too, is copyrighted audio, and if it is a disaster waiting to happen? Well, there is a way to be sure of this, and that is by using Creator Studio.
But before diving into understanding how exactly you could do that, you need to understand how YouTube detects infringement.
There is this robust content identification system called Content ID that allows music creators to brand their music to themselves and protect it. However, if the music that you use in your audio is not registered by the creator for a content ID, then that particular copyright will not be enforced by YouTube.
Now that is out of the way, let us figure out how you can find out if you have used copyrighted music on YouTube. To do that, follow these steps:
- Head over to Creator Studio and upload a video to your channel.
- The third step in the process is to do checks. In this scroll down to see the copyright section. If YouTube has found a copyright claim on your video, it will be displayed here.
How Do Some People Avoid Copyright Strikes?
Even after warning against the problems of getting a copyright strike, we know you are skeptical. Because the creator you always watch uses trending music all the time, and they seem to be doing fine. So, why wouldn’t you be?
Well, ignoring YouTube’s copyright policies can mean that with a single mistake, you could throw out months of hard work on your channel. And secondly, the reason your favorite creator seems to be getting away with it could be due to one of the following reasons:
1. Lack of Content ID
Did you know that 99% of copyright claims submitted to YouTube were identified using Content ID? That is how effective these are in protecting creator rights. But what exactly are they?
As briefed above, Content ID is something that needs to be registered by the original creator in order for YouTube to enforce it effectively. But if the creator has not done that, then you will not get a strike for using that music.
However, this approach is discouraged because it is a disaster waiting to happen. Content ID could be registered at any point in time, and when it is done, the damage will inevitably happen.
2. Might Happen Another Day
Content IDs are very clear. No matter what version of the music you use, sped-up, slow, it can identify the music effectively.
Even if it does not happen today, your copyright infringement is bound to come to light soon. YouTube takes this very seriously and keeps on improving its scanning systems independently and also by partnering with third-party apps.
3. It Falls Under Fair Use
Now, there is a concept called Fair use. This is when, in some very rare cases, the music will be allowed to be used by someone other than the creator.
And this is a very, very rare phenomenon. Therefore, we suggest you not to bank on this.
Final Thoughts
No matter what song or audio you are planning on using for your YouTube video, it is good practice to check whether you have used copyrighted music on YouTube or not. This way, you get to protect all your hard work of making that video. Because a copyright strike can be a blow to your video.
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