YouTube has introduced a tool that'll help creators determine if their videos have been re-uploaded by unauthorized users and promptly have them taken down.
Now, each time a video is uploaded to the site, YouTube will scan and check if the content already exists in the database or shares huge similarities with existing ones. It will, however, only identify whole videos, not clips.
YouTube Launches New Copyright Match Tool
YouTube is calling the feature its Copyright Match tool, and it'll roll out to creators that have more than 100,000 subscribers beginning next week. The feature will become more widely available over the next few months.
"We know how frustrating it is when your content is uploaded to other channels without your permission and how time consuming it can be to manually search for these re-uploads," YouTube said in a blog post. There are currently a number of ways to prevent this from happening, it goes on to explain, but none of them are as sophisticated as Copyright Match. The company has been testing the tool for almost a year to make it a safe and effective solution for the whole YouTube community.
Is It The Same As Content ID?
A few things to keep in mind, according to YouTube:
• It's important for a user to be the first to upload their video on YouTube, as the time of upload is how the company will determine matches.
• Again, the tool is focused more on full video re-uploads. For users who find clips of their videos on another channel's content and want them removed, YouTube recommends they use the copyright webform.
• When the tool finds a match, the original author can do either of the following: ignore, get in touch with the re-uploader, or directly ask YouTube to have the video removed. The last option comes with a seven-day delay to give the re-uploader time to correct the issue. However, this delay period is completely optional, meaning the original author may just instead tell YouTube to remove it immediately.
YouTube already has a somewhat similar program called Content ID, which helps copyright owners locate other users that copy their original content without any permission. While Copyright Match uses the same underlying technology, YouTube explains that the two services are different, as the new tool was made specifically for re-uploaded videos.
In related news, YouTube has pledged to spend $25 million to deal with its fake news problem. It'll involve educational programs on digital literacy, in addition to helping organizations produce better video.
Are you a YouTube creator? Do you think Copyright Match sounds like a useful tool? As always, if you have anything to share, feel free to sound them off in the comments section below!
