What is YouTube content ID? It allows you to identify, claim, monetize, and prevent unauthorized use of your content. Learn how it works and how you can use it.
In the current digital era, the need to monetize your works of art while simultaneously protecting your copyright must be balanced. YouTube achieves these two goals with content ID. So, naturally, before you upload your content on YouTube and start using content ID, it's essential to understand how it works, what it can and can't do, and, most importantly, how you can use it to your advantage. We'll explore everything you need to know about YouTube content ID and how you can use it to protect your copyright.
What is YouTube content ID?
YouTube content ID, also called content ID, is a “fingerprinting” technology used by YouTube to identify and manage all copyrighted content on the platform. The “fingerprint” is a complex code derived from the video's audio and visual characteristics. It’s a way of comparing uploaded content to a database of audio and video files registered by rights holders.
Ideally, YouTube content ID is used by copyright holders like music labels, songwriters, and performers, and content creators to protect and manage their intellectual property and royalty payments on YouTube. It’s a way to balance between copyright protection and allowing user-generated content on the platform.
How does YouTube content ID work?
Content ID helps content owners manage their content and prevent unauthorized use of their work. The simplest way to think of YouTube content ID is as a copyright protection system specifically meant to ensure that copyright holders get to monetize their work, regardless of who uses it. How YouTube content ID works can be broken down into five simple operations:
Digital fingerprinting
Essentially, YouTube content ID works by scanning every video uploaded to YouTube and comparing it to a database of audio and video files belonging to content owners. So, as a copyright owner, you must submit your audio and/or visual content to YouTube, which “fingerprints” them as reference files. And this brings us to the second step.
The matching process
Whenever users upload their content on YouTube, they’re automatically scanned against the database of content IDs containing copyrighted material. If there’s no match, and you are part of the YouTube Partner Program, you can proceed to monetize your content with YouTube ads.
However, if a match is detected, the uploaded content is flagged, and a content ID claim is placed. We’ll discuss content ID claims in detail later and what to do when your YouTube upload is slapped with one.
Rights holder actions
When you upload content that contains a song or a clip from copyrighted content, YouTube Content ID detects it and notifies the rights holder. They can then decide whether to let your video stay on YouTube, take it down, or monetize it and receive its revenues.
YouTube content ID monetization
One notable feature of content ID is the ability for copyright holders to monetize matched videos. Like any other interactive streaming platform, YouTube pays artists royalties, including sync and performance royalties. Ads can be displayed on the video, and the revenue generated is shared between the copyright holder and the uploader. Note that revenue sharing isn’t always guaranteed.
Blocking and takedown
Copyright holders can also decide to block videos from being viewed in specific geographical locations or block them entirely. They can also petition YouTube to remove them from the platform.
How to get a content ID on YouTube
YouTube only grants content IDs to copyright owners who meet specific criteria. It doesn’t just give anyone a content ID; obtaining access to a YouTube content ID may not be a straightforward process for individual artists. However, getting your YouTube content ID is seamless for established entities such as record labels, film studios, and aggregators. If you want to get a content ID on YouTube, here’s a general overview:
Partner with a third-party service
Smaller, individual content creators who wish to benefit from YouTube content ID can partner with third-party services, usually ones that provide music distribution and rights management. Most of these services offer access to content ID as part of their package.
Meeting eligibility requirements
So, if you don’t want to partner with a third-party service to access YouTube’s content ID, then you must meet YouTube’s eligibility criteria to qualify directly for content ID. This usually involves demonstrating a substantial audience and a track record of original content creation. Remember, YouTube doesn’t just give everyone a content ID.
If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply for content ID access directly from your YouTube account. YouTube reviews the application to ensure compliance with its policies.
If approved, you’re assigned a YouTube partner manager who creates your content owner, giving you access to the content manager tools in Creator Studio. This is where you upload your copyrighted content to YouTube. It also allows you to monitor and manage your copyrighted material in one place. Note that YouTube also sets explicit guidelines on how to use content ID.
What is YouTube content ID claim?
So far, you already understand that one of the primary functions of YouTube content ID is to protect the creators’ intellectual property. What happens when another user uploads content that breaches this IP? They’re slapped with content ID claims. A content ID claim is an automated notification sent by the YouTube content ID system to YouTube users when they upload content that matches copyrighted music or video. As mentioned above, exclusive copyright owners can monetize, block, or track the statistics of the video once the content ID claim is attached to it. Note that content ID claims can be geo-specific. That means if a content ID claim is placed on a YouTube music or video, the rights holder can monetize it in one region and entirely block it in another.
What to do if you receive a YouTube content ID claim
Firstly, if your YouTube content is slapped with a content ID claim, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’ll be pulled down. As we’ve discussed, the copyright holder has a few options.
So, what should you do? Before taking any step, consider asking yourself these questions: Did you use someone else’s copyrighted material? Are you okay with YouTube putting ads on your content? And, do you mind giving up the potential revenue stream from the uploaded content?
Once you have the answers to these questions, here’s what you can do.
Accept the content ID claim
You can accept the content ID claim if you have used someone’s copyrighted material. Note that if you are a member of the YouTube Partner Programme, having a content ID claim means you won’t be able to monetize that particular content on YouTube.
The good news is that YouTube gives you three options to remove the copyrighted material from your upload without necessarily having to re-upload it. That means your original URL remains intact. So, you can trim out the contentious segment, entirely replace the copyrighted material, or mute the copyrighted material.
Dispute the content ID claim
You can dispute the claim if the YouTube content ID claim has been tagged to your video erroneously. This may also occur if you didn’t use copyright-protected content or if you have the rights to use the material.
When you dispute a content ID claim in YouTube Studio, the claimant is given up to 30 days to uphold the claim, release it, or let it lapse. During this period, YouTube will withhold all revenue generated until the claim is resolved.
Share the revenue
If you are a member of the YouTube Partner Programme, there are some instances where you can opt for revenue sharing with the copyright holder. This usually applies to cover songs – audio and videos.
Do nothing
If you agree with the content ID claim and don’t want to edit your YouTube content, then you can leave the claim and do nothing. In this case, your content may be blocked in some countries, and you may not monetize it.
YouTube content ID music distribution
YouTube content ID Music Distribution is a part of the broader content ID system, tailored specifically to musicians, music labels, and content creators in the music industry. It allows these artists to protect the copyright of their musical compositions and recordings.
YouTube content ID Music Distribution operates within the content ID framework and focuses primarily on the musical aspects of content.
That brings us to the question: How does YouTube content ID support the work of music rights holders?
YouTube's content ID system plays a significant role in Music Rights Management on the platform. It’s vital in music license management to allow rights holders to manage the usage of their music on the platform.
A key aspect of YouTube content ID Music Distribution is Music License Management. A single song can only be played on YouTube if it has a few rights, including master rights holders who receive mechanical royalties, public performance rights, and other rights. Since most of these rights may be controlled by different parties, YouTube ensures that the rights holders receive their fair share.
YouTube pays royalties to artists and musicians from a portion of its advertising revenue or subscription fees. Copyright holders of music and musical compositions on YouTube can also earn royalties from the master recordings and the composition of their songs.
The Cost of Content ID: What Creators Need to Know
While Content ID offers significant benefits, creators should also be aware of the associated costs, which can vary depending on how they access the system.
Direct fees and distribution costs are a key consideration. Certain distributors, such as UnitedMasters, impose a fee per release for users on their Boost plan and DistroKid to enable Content ID. DistroKid, for instance, charges an annual fee for Content ID in addition to taking a percentage of the ad revenue generated from matched content. Conversely, some platforms like LANDR and RouteNote offer Content ID as an included feature within their distribution plans at no extra cost. Amuse provides Content ID for free to its Pro users, while those on the Boost plan are subject to a percentage fee on their Content ID royalties. TuneCore does not charge upfront fees for Content ID but retains a portion of the generated revenue.
Revenue-sharing models are also prevalent in the Content ID landscape. Distributors often retain a percentage of the gross royalties earned through Content ID monetization. For example, UnitedMasters keeps 20%, DistroKid retains 20% in addition to their annual fee, and TuneCore also takes a 20% cut. Amuse's Boost plan deducts a 15% fee from Content ID royalties. It's important to note that YouTube itself participates in revenue sharing, splitting the ad revenue generated from monetized videos with the original content owner. Typically, asset owners receive 80% of the monetization revenue from claimed videos, with YouTube retaining the remaining 20%.
To navigate these costs effectively, creators should carefully compare the fee structures and revenue-sharing models that different distributors offer to identify the most suitable option for their specific needs. They should consider whether a free distribution tier with a revenue share arrangement is more advantageous than a paid plan that allows for a higher percentage of revenue retention. For musicians, in particular, it's crucial to weigh the potential benefits of Content ID against any associated costs, especially if they are utilizing a paid distribution tier.
The cost of accessing Content ID varies considerably depending on the distribution platform a creator chooses. These costs can range from being entirely free (often with a corresponding share of the revenue generated) to involving fixed upfront fees or a combination of both. This necessitates thorough research and comparison on the part of creators to fully understand the financial implications of using Content ID through different providers. A common model for Content ID access involves revenue sharing, where the distribution platform retains a percentage of the earnings generated from the monetization of content identified by the system. Creators must factor in this percentage when calculating their potential net earnings from Content ID. However, the availability of free Content ID options through certain distributors makes this powerful tool more accessible, particularly for independent creators who may be operating with limited financial resources.
Free music distribution with content ID
As we’ve discussed, YouTube content ID is typically available to established entities such as music labels, film studios, aggregators, and other organizations that own significant copyrighted content. Smaller creators or independent musicians who do not meet specific eligibility criteria might need to work with third-party service providers that offer access to content ID as part of their services. And these third-party providers may be costly.
At Talentir, we are working hard to reduce the fees for this feature to zero percent. We are currently at a 5% fee level, which is by far the lowest in the industry.
Lukas Steiner, CEO Talentir
How Talentir helps you elevate your YouTube royalties?
We understand the importance of empowering artists and creators to maximize their royalties. Talentir is the first platform to turn YouTube videos into an asset you can buy and sell. It lets creators and artists share parts of their videos with their fans, which helps to build a close and authentic community. With Talentir, royalties become scalable, enabling distribution to many fans. We focus on artists and creators, ensuring a seamless and user-friendly process. Talentir is the backbone, facilitating an effortless experience to make shared ownership and payouts a reality. The more people own and interact with a video, the more popular and profitable it becomes. Got curious about how it works? Explore Talentir now.
The bottom line
For songwriters and performers, using YouTube content ID for music distribution can be a great way to get your music in front of a wider audience and earn money from your content. We’ve covered everything you’ll need to know about YouTube content ID and how it works.
However, be sure you read YouTube’s guidelines for using content ID and familiarize yourself with uploading reference files and managing claims.
FAQs
What is a "match" in content ID?
A "match" in content ID refers to the system identifying copyrighted material within a video. This match is based on the digital fingerprint generated by the system, which is compared to the fingerprints of copyrighted content in the content ID database. A match is triggered when a significant portion of a video's audio or visual content matches a fingerprint in the database.
Is content ID on YouTube free?
Yes, if your entity is big enough to qualify for it. But in most cases, no, as individual creators or independent musicians usually don’t meet eligibility criteria. Suppose content creators are interested in protecting their works with YouTube content ID. In that case, they have to cooperate with third-party service providers that offer access to content ID as part of their service package. And these third-party tools may be quite costly.
What’s the difference between content ID and copyright?
Copyright is a legal framework that grants creators exclusive rights to their original works. It automatically applies to any creative work, giving the creator control over its usage and distribution. Content ID, on the other hand, is a technology implemented by YouTube to manage copyrighted content on its platform. It helps copyright holders identify and manage their content by scanning uploaded videos and comparing them to a database of copyrighted material.
