Content ID is YouTube's digital fingerprinting system that helps content creators identify and manage their copyrighted content on the platform. Videos uploaded to YouTube are compared against audio and video files registered with Content ID by content owners.
When a video matches YouTube's Content ID registered content, a copyright notice appears. The content owner can then choose to take several actions, such as:
- Clearing the claim and taking no further action
- Tracking the video’s viewership statistics
- Monetizing the video by running ads against it
- Muting the audio that matches their music
- Blocking a whole video from being viewed
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Who are YouTube Content ID Partners?
YouTube Partner platforms use the Content ID system to manage this copyrighted content on behalf of content owners. They include FUGA (previously Adrev), Audiam, TuneCore, HAAWK/Identifyy, SourceAudio, and EliteAlliance. These partners provide users with information on which videos their content is used in, tracking of unauthorized uses, viewership reports, and distribution of any monetization earnings.
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How does this relate to AudioJungle music?
Many online music composers, including some that sell licenses via AudioJungle, have their content digitally fingerprinted via Content ID to protect against unauthorized uses. We provide license certificates and purchase codes for all purchases on Envato Market. If a copyright notice appears on a video containing music tracked by Content ID, you can easily clear it.
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What does this mean for me and my YouTube projects?
When a video is uploaded to YouTube with licensed, digitally fingerprinted music, a “matched third party content” copyright notice will appear. A copyright notice does not mean that copyrights have been infringed. This is not to be confused with a YouTube “copyright strike.” It's simply a notice that YouTube has detected Content ID registered content. If you've licensed the music from AudioJungle, you can easily clear this notice.
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Why are there ads running on my videos?
When unlicensed use of music is found in a YouTube video, it may have monetized ads placed over it by the YouTube Content ID system. Once you use your AudioJungle license certificate to clear the copyright notices, these ads will go away, and you can monetize the video yourself if you wish.
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How do I know if an item is registered with Content ID?
If a track is registered with Content ID, it will be called out in the item description on the item page.
Additionally, you’ll see an attribute for “YouTube Content ID Registered: Yes/No,” as well as which partner platform administers it.
Please Note: This is a new policy as of April 2015, and it may take some time for all authors to add this Content ID information. In the meantime, you can still check the item description as many registered authors already provide a note about YouTube & Content ID, and if in doubt you can always contact the author directly via their profile page.
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How to clear a YouTube copyright notice
Clearing a copyright notice is a straightforward process. You can remove copyright notices in the following ways:
- Disputing the claim via YouTube’s built-in form.
- If the music is administered via FUGA, using the FUGA Claim Clearance page is the quickest way to clear a claim. FUGA will send you an email confirmation once it has been cleared. You can also use the following pages for other YouTube Content ID Partners:
- Or, by contacting the author directly via their AudioJungle profile page with a link to your YouTube video, where they can further assist with having the copyright notices removed.
To clear a claim via YouTube, you need to let YouTube know that you have licensed the music. Simply click the “matched third party content” copyright notice next to the video in your Video Manager, or on your dedicated copyright notices page. After you click “file a dispute,” select the option "I have a license or written permission from the proper rights holder to use this material."
In the "Reason for dispute" box, copy/paste the contents from your purchased license certificate (accessible via the Downloads section in your Envato Market account). You may also wish to include the statement "A license to use this royalty-free music by [Name of Author] was purchased from AudioJungle.net."
Once you submit the dispute, claims are usually cleared within 24 to 96 hours. If any issues arise, contacting the author directly via their profile page can often help to expedite clearing a claim.
- For help on finding your item purchase code & license certificate, see this article.
- You may also find it helpful to read YouTube's support article for users affected by copyright claims as well as YouTube’s support article on submitting additional documentation to claim montezation rights.
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How long does it take to review a YouTube claim?
If you have lodged a YouTube copyright claim, please follow up directly with YouTube, as this is outside our control.
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Tips for clearing claims in advance
Uploading early as an “Unlisted” video
If you’ve licensed Content ID music from AudioJungle, we recommend setting your YouTube videos to “Unlisted” upon uploading until all “matched third-party content” notices are cleared.
This will allow time for any notices to be cleared before the video is published and ensure that you can monetize your video from the moment it goes live. Once the notice is removed, the video can be set to “Public,” and monetization can be activated.
Whitelisting Channels
If you or a client regularly use Content ID music from a specific author, some YouTube Partner Platforms also support whitelisting an entire YouTube channel. Whitelisting will prevent any further copyright notices from appearing on future videos that contain music from that author.
To do so, you’ll need to directly contact the author via their AudioJungle profile page and provide them with:
- The contents of your purchased License Certificate(s)
- A link to the relevant YouTube channel (your own or a client’s)
Please Note: Occasionally, whitelisting a YouTube channel may not be possible if there are existing, uncleared copyright notices from another author on that channel. If so, these must be individually cleared first.
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How to clear notices on other social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram)?
When content you've posted on other social media platforms receives a content ID notice, please follow the guidelines in the email you receive from Facebook or Instagram, or navigate to their respective Help Centers to clear the claim: