Beyond the stage, artists play by the rules of YouTube’s Content ID system

It is no question that YouTube can be a great tool to promote an artist’s latest work, whether it is music, film, or anything in between. Protecting the copyrights of an artist’s work is also something that YouTube takes seriously. However, artists seem to be finding themselves wrapped around a legal maze when the automated system backfires.

 

In 2007, YouTube released Content ID, a newly automated detection system meant to protect copyright infringements. Each video uploaded to YouTube, no matter if it’s private or public, carries with it an ID File, which is stored in YouTube’s database. Any user upload that is found to be a copy of an ID File will be retracted or have the audio line removed.

 

For rap group After the Smoke, YouTube’s Content ID system has provided nothing but trouble. After the group posted their song titled, “One in a Million,” YouTube’s Content ID system found a match with another rap group named Yelawolf. Turns out, “One in a Million” contains identical music track with Yelawolf’s “Far From A Bitch.”

 

Despite the efforts made by After the Smoke to get their video back on YouTube, the rights to the song was owned by Universal Music Group (UMG). YouTube has signed an agreement with UMG, giving the recording company the power to take down videos they believe have copyright infringement violations. Unfortunately, After the Smoke was not signed with UMG, and lost the rights to their own original song in YouTube.

 

Since then, YouTube has greatly improved the appeal process of Content ID disputes. Requests for video takedowns will have to be formally filed under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), and further disputes may lead to the federal court. Unintentional claims are no longer processed automatically, allowing the content owner to “manually review” the claims before their video is taken down.

According to Timothy Lee of of Ars Technica however, there are still many improvements to YouTube’s Content ID system. There is a “three strike” system where content owners would get a strike every time there is a claim by DMCA. After three strikes, the account as well as all uploaded videos will be removed. This means, despite if the content owner actually is the original creator of the video, they will potentially lose their account after three strikes.