On my YouTube channel, there are two types of videos that get copyright claims I can do nothing about.
- Copyrighted music at public events
- Videos I make on purpose with copyrighted music
A copyright claim allows a collection agency — a third-party working on behalf of a copyright owner — to collect ad revenues from videos with copyrighted music.
A third type of video that sometimes get copyright claims are the videos that I make with Creative Commons music. I always appeal to release the copyright claim on these videos.
Creative Commons is an irrevocable license. If a musician signs a label deal, their new licensing doesn’t affect my usage of the music under the Creative Commons license.
The relevant part of the license is this: “The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.”
When I cite that line in a appeal, the collection agency releases the copyright claim within hours or a few days.
A recent copyright claim on the behalf of Storyblocks took a bit more effort to resolve because they tried to assert their licensing over the Creative Commons licensing. That was unacceptable.
Read the rest of the essay on Medium.