Getting a copyright strike on your YouTube channel can be a nightmare for any creator. It can lead to demonetization, video removal, and even channel suspension. The best way to avoid these issues is to check if the music you want to use is copyrighted before you upload your video. In this article, Ecomobi will summarize ways to check copyrighted music on YouTube for free.
Why is it important to check copyrighted music?
If you don’t check for copyrighted music, you leave your channel vulnerable to audio copyright infringement. YouTube employs a strict and sophisticated policy for handling copyright, and no channel is too big to be penalized. Even creators with millions of subscribers have faced sanctions for violating these rules.
Copyright infringement on YouTube has serious consequences, affecting not only channel quality but also long-term monetization and growth.
- Loss of monetization: Copyright owners can claim all ad revenue from your video or disable monetization entirely.
- Video Blocking or Removal: Your video could be blocked in certain countries or removed from the platform altogether.
- Channel strikes: A copyright strike temporarily bans you from uploading, streaming, or posting. If your channel receives 3 strikes within 90 days, YouTube will permanently delete it.
- Legal action: In serious cases, channel owners can face legal issues and be required to pay for damages.
From that, it can be seen that checking audio copyright is extremely important and any content creator who is preparing to make money on YouTube must know how to check copyrighted music on YouTube.
Read more:
How to check copyrighted music on YouTube channel
To avoid these problems, it is important to check copyright before uploading videos. This helps protect your account from unnecessary complaints, and you do not have to worry about your channel being “disappeared” after putting a lot of effort and effort into it.
Method 1: Using the copyright checker tool on Youtube Studio – Content ID
One of the most effective ways to check copyrighted music on YouTube is to use the tools provided by YouTube. Content ID is an automated system that scans uploaded videos and compares them with the copyrighted music database that YouTube has collected. You will receive an immediate warning if your content is violated.
According to statistics from YouTube, the Content ID system handles up to 98% of copyright infringement cases without the need for legal notice. This shows that using tools and platforms that support copyright checking will help you minimize the risk of infringement and protect your YouTube channel effectively
Here’s how to check copyrighted music on YouTube using this tool:
- Step 1: Upload video: Go to Youtube Studio ⮕ Overview ⮕ “Upload video” (select video from computer/phone to start uploading process)
- Step 2: Fill video information: Enter the required information in the Details (title, description) and Video elements (subtitles, end screens) sections. Don’t forget to add related videos to the end screen – this is one of the most effective ways to increase YouTube views quickly.
- Step 3: Check for copyrighted music on YouTube: The last and most important step. YouTube will check your video for copyright infringement. If there are no problems, the video will be marked as No Problems Detected and allowed to be uploaded.
Note: A Content ID flag during this “Checks” step is a warning, not a strike. It allows you to remove or replace the music before publishing, protecting your channel from any negative impact.
Method 2: Manually check the song’s copyright information on YouTube
If you have a specific popular song in mind, you can often find its copyright status by doing some quick research directly on YouTube.
- Search for the song: Find the official music video or a popular upload of the song.
- Examine the description: Scroll down to the video description and click “Show more.” Look for a section titled “Music in this video.” This area often lists the song, artist, and the licenses provided by the copyright holders. If you see this, the music is copyrighted and managed by a label.
This manual check is a quick way to confirm if a song is registered in the Content ID system.
Method 3: Check copyrighted music through supported platforms
Besides YouTube’s tools, you can use these supporting platforms to check copyrighted music on Youtube:
- For Music Identification: Apps like Shazam or Tunefind can identify a song for you. Once you have the name, you can research its copyright status.
- For Royalty-Free Music: Websites like Epidemic Sound, Artlist, Pixabay, and Bensound are excellent sources for high-quality, royalty-free music. They provide clear licensing terms, so you know exactly how you can use their tracks.
Method 4: Read the copyright terms carefully
Before using any music, make sure you understand:
- “Fair Use” Terms: There are some instances where you can use copyrighted content, but this is often limited.
- Creative Commons License: Many music tracks are available under this license, which requires attribution when used.
How to avoid YouTube copyright claims?
To avoid copyright infringement on YouTube, you need to understand YouTube’s copyright policy.
Use free music
You can use music and sound effects from the Youtube Audio Library or platforms that provide legally copyrighted music. This is the most popular way to handle YouTube copyrighted videos. You just need to search the keyword “free music” on Google and the results will have many websites for you to choose from. Some reputable music sources you can refer to are:
- Pixabay.com
- Free Music on SoundCloud
- SoundClick
- Uppbeat.io
- Soundstripe.com
- Free Music Archive (FMA)
- ….
Buy copyrighted music
If you want to use a particular copyrighted song, find a way to contact the copyright owner to get permission. This may involve paying a fee or signing a license agreement.
Create your music
One of the easiest ways to avoid getting hit with a YouTube copyright claim is to use your own original content – including audio. This is also covered in the latest YouTube monetization policy.
How to avoid YouTube Copyright Infringement – Artist Licensing
Before using any music, it’s vital to understand the terms of its license.
- “Fair Use”: Fair Use is a complex legal doctrine that permits the limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes like commentary, criticism, or parody. However, it is highly subjective and often leads to disputes. Do not rely on Fair Use unless you are confident you meet all legal criteria.
- Creative Commons (CC): This license allows you to use music for free, but you must credit the original artist in your video description. The YouTube Audio Library makes it easy by providing the exact text you need to copy and paste.
- Royalty-Free: This does not always mean free. It means you pay once (either a single fee or a subscription) to use the music without paying recurring royalties to the creator.
In the YouTube Audio Library, if you use royalty-free audio BUT it has a Creative Commons license, you still have to credit the artist in the video description. Here is how:
- Step 1: Select YouTube Studio ⮕ Audio Library (left menu)
- Step 2: Find the song you want to use.
- For all Creative Commons licensed music, click the filter bar then Attribution Required.
- If you want to find music that is eligible for free use without attribution, click the No Attribution Required filter bar.
- Step 3: In the “License Type” column, click the Creative Commons License icon. Press Copy to copy the attribution text ⮕ and paste this information into the video description.
Understanding the different ways to check copyrighted music on YouTube is a fundamental part of building a sustainable and professional channel. By using YouTube’s built-in tools, leveraging royalty-free libraries, and respecting copyright licenses, you can avoid unnecessary risks and focus on what you do best: creating great content.
For more expert tips on growing your digital presence, follow Ecomobi to stay updated on the latest marketing insights
Contact us, Ecomobi:
– Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/ecomobi.ssp
– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecomobi_ssp
– Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ecomobipassiovietnam
– Email: info@ecomobi.com
