YouTube

=== Copyright issues ===
{{Main|YouTube copyright issues}}

{{further|#Revenue to copyright holders}}

YouTube has faced numerous challenges and criticisms in its attempts to deal with copyright, including the site's first viral video, [[Lazy Sunday (The Lonely Island song)|Lazy Sunday]], which had to be taken down, due to copyright concerns.<ref name="First Launched" /> At the time of uploading a video, YouTube users are shown a message asking them not to violate copyright laws.<ref>{{cite news |last=Marsden |first=Rhodri |date=August 12, 2009 |title=Why did my YouTube account get closed down? |work=The Independent |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/rhodri-marsden-why-did-my-youtube-account-get-closed-down-1770618.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/rhodri-marsden-why-did-my-youtube-account-get-closed-down-1770618.html |archive-date=May 7, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=August 12, 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Despite this advice, many unauthorized clips of copyrighted material remain on YouTube. YouTube does not view videos before they are posted online, and it is left to copyright holders to issue a [[Digital Millennium Copyright Act|DMCA]] [[takedown notice]] pursuant to the terms of the [[Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act]]. Any successful complaint about copyright infringement results in a [[YouTube copyright strike]]. Three successful complaints for [[copyright infringement]] against a user account will result in the account and all of its uploaded videos being deleted.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/t/copyright_strike Why do I have a sanction on my account?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120143234/http://www.youtube.com/t/copyright_strike |date=January 20, 2013 }} YouTube. Retrieved February 5, 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=May 21, 2010 |title=Is YouTube's three-strike rule fair to users? |work=BBC News |location=London |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/8696716.stm |access-date=February 5, 2012 |archive-date=July 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704094039/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/8696716.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> From 2007 to 2009 organizations including [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]], [[Mediaset]], and the English [[Premier League]] have filed lawsuits against YouTube, claiming that it has done too little to prevent the uploading of copyrighted material.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 13, 2007 |title=Viacom will sue YouTube for $1bn |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6446193.stm |access-date=May 26, 2008 |archive-date=January 15, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115123246/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6446193.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=July 30, 2008 |title=Mediaset Files EUR500 Million Suit Vs Google's YouTube |publisher=[[CNNMoney.com]] |url=https://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200807301025DOWJONESDJONLINE000654_FORTUNE5.htm |access-date=August 19, 2009 |archive-date=September 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908122120/http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200807301025DOWJONESDJONLINE000654_FORTUNE5.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=May 5, 2007 |title=Premier League to take action against YouTube |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2312532/Premier-League-to-take-action-against-YouTube.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2312532/Premier-League-to-take-action-against-YouTube.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=March 26, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In August 2008, a US court ruled in ''[[Lenz v. Universal Music Corp.]]'' that copyright holders cannot order the removal of an online file without first determining whether the posting reflected [[fair use]] of the material.<ref>{{cite news |last=Egelko |first=Bob |date=August 20, 2008 |title=Woman can sue over YouTube clip de-posting |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/20/MNU412FKRL.DTL |access-date=August 25, 2008 |archive-date=August 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080825003638/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/20/MNU412FKRL.DTL |url-status=live }}</ref> YouTube's owner Google announced in November 2015 that they would help cover the legal cost in select cases where they believe fair use defenses apply.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Finley |first=Klint |date=November 19, 2015 |title=Google Pledges to Help Fight Bogus YouTube Copyright Claims—for a Few |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/11/google-pledges-to-help-fight-bogus-youtube-copyright-claims-for-a-few/ |magazine=Wired |access-date=March 25, 2017 |archive-date=March 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320144102/https://www.wired.com/2015/11/google-pledges-to-help-fight-bogus-youtube-copyright-claims-for-a-few/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the 2011 case of ''[[Smith v. Summit Entertainment LLC]]'', professional singer Matt Smith sued Summit Entertainment for the wrongful use of copyright takedown notices on YouTube.<ref>{{cite case |court=Ohio Northern District Court |date=July 18, 2013 |url=https://www.docketalarm.com/cases/Ohio_Northern_District_Court/3--11-cv-00348/Smith__v_Summit_Entertainment_LLC/#q= |access-date=October 21, 2014 |title=Smith v. Summit Entertainment LLC |via=Docket Alarm, Inc.}}</ref> He asserted seven [[causes of action]], and four were ruled in Smith's favor.<ref>{{cite web |author=District Judge James G. Carr |date=June 6, 2011 |title=Order |url=https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=4653165041580834913 |access-date=November 7, 2011 |work=Smith v. Summit Entertainment LLC |publisher=United States District Court, N.D. Ohio, Western Division |archive-date=January 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130083207/http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=4653165041580834913 |url-status=live }}</ref> In April 2012, a court in Hamburg ruled that YouTube could be held responsible for copyrighted material posted by its users.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 20, 2012 |title=YouTube loses court battle over music clips |work=[[BBC News]] |location=London |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17785613 |access-date=April 20, 2012 |archive-date=October 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016014454/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17785613 |url-status=live }}</ref> On November 1, 2016, the dispute with GEMA was resolved, with Google content ID being used to allow advertisements to be added to videos with content protected by GEMA.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 1, 2016 |title=YouTube's seven-year stand-off ends |work=[[BBC News]] |location=London |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-37839038 |access-date=November 2, 2016 |archive-date=November 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103103021/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-37839038 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2013, it was reported that [[Universal Music Group]] and YouTube have a contractual agreement that prevents content blocked on YouTube by a request from UMG from being restored, even if the uploader of the video files a DMCA counter-notice.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 5, 2013 |title=YouTube's Deal With Universal Blocks DMCA Counter Notices |url=https://torrentfreak.com/youtube-deal-with-universal-blocks-dmca-counter-notices-130405/ |access-date=April 5, 2013 |publisher=TorrentFreak |archive-date=April 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407164748/http://torrentfreak.com/youtube-deal-with-universal-blocks-dmca-counter-notices-130405/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Videos removed or blocked due to YouTube's contractual obligations |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=3045545 |access-date=April 5, 2013 |archive-date=May 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514115738/http://support.google.com/youtube/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=3045545 |url-status=live }}</ref> As part of YouTube Music, Universal and YouTube signed an agreement in 2017, which was followed by separate agreements other major labels, which gave the company the right to advertising revenue when its music was played on YouTube.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Aswad |first1=Jem |date=December 19, 2017 |title=YouTube Strikes New Deals With Universal and Sony Music |url=https://variety.com/2017/biz/news/universal-music-group-and-youtube-reach-new-global-multi-year-agreement-1202644815/ |access-date=April 22, 2021 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422152635/https://variety.com/2017/biz/news/universal-music-group-and-youtube-reach-new-global-multi-year-agreement-1202644815/ |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2019, creators were having videos taken down or demonetized when Content ID identified even short segments of copyrighted music within a much longer video, with different levels of enforcement depending on the record label.<ref name="fighting">{{cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=May 24, 2019 |title=YouTubers and record labels are fighting, and record labels keep winning |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/24/18635904/copyright-youtube-creators-dmca-takedown-fair-use-music-cover |access-date=April 22, 2021 |website=The Verge |language=en |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422152639/https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/24/18635904/copyright-youtube-creators-dmca-takedown-fair-use-music-cover |url-status=live}}</ref> Experts noted that some of these clips said qualified for fair use.<ref name="fighting" />

==== Content ID ====
{{Main|Content ID}}

In June 2007, YouTube began trials of a system for automatic detection of uploaded videos that infringe copyright. Google CEO Eric Schmidt regarded this system as necessary for resolving lawsuits such as the one from [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]], which alleged that YouTube profited from content that it did not have the right to distribute.<ref>{{cite news |last=Delaney |first=Kevin J. |date=June 12, 2007 |title=YouTube to Test Software To Ease Licensing Fights |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://online.wsj.com/article/SB118161295626932114.html |access-date=December 4, 2011 |archive-date=February 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220085307/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118161295626932114.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The system, which was initially called "Video Identification"<ref>{{Citation|last=YouTube Advertisers|title=Video Identification|date=February 4, 2008|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWizsV5Le7s|access-date=August 29, 2018}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=King |first=David |date=December 2, 2010 |title=Content ID turns three |language=en-US |work=Official YouTube Blog |url=https://youtube.googleblog.com/2010/12/content-id-turns-three.html |access-date=August 29, 2018}}</ref> and later became known as Content ID,<ref>{{cite web |date=September 28, 2010 |title=YouTube Content ID |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g2U12SsRns |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/9g2U12SsRns |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=May 25, 2015 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> creates an ID File for copyrighted audio and video material, and stores it in a database. When a video is uploaded, it is checked against the database, and flags the video as a copyright violation if a match is found.<ref name="youtube">[https://www.youtube.com/t/contentid_more More about Content ID] YouTube. Retrieved December 4, 2011.</ref> When this occurs, the content owner has the choice of blocking the video to make it unviewable, tracking the viewing statistics of the video, or adding advertisements to the video.

An independent test in 2009 uploaded multiple versions of the same song to YouTube and concluded that while the system was "surprisingly resilient" in finding copyright violations in the audio tracks of videos, it was not infallible.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Von Lohmann |first1=Fred |date=April 23, 2009 |title=Testing YouTube's Audio Content ID System |newspaper=Electronic Frontier Foundation |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/04/testing-youtubes-aud |access-date=December 4, 2011}}</ref> The use of Content ID to remove material automatically has led to [[YouTube copyright issues|controversy]] in some cases, as the videos have not been checked by a human for fair use.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Von Lohmann |first1=Fred |date=February 3, 2009 |title=YouTube's January Fair Use Massacre |newspaper=Electronic Frontier Foundation |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/01/youtubes-january-fair-use-massacre |access-date=December 4, 2011}}</ref> If a YouTube user disagrees with a decision by Content ID, it is possible to fill in a form disputing the decision.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/t/contentid_dispute Content ID disputes] YouTube. Retrieved December 4, 2011.</ref>

Before 2016, videos were not monetized until the dispute was resolved. Since April 2016, videos continue to be monetized while the dispute is in progress, and the money goes to whoever won the dispute.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hernandez |first1=Patricia |title=YouTube's Content ID System Gets One Much-Needed Fix |url=https://kotaku.com/youtubes-content-id-system-gets-one-much-needed-fix-1773643254 |access-date=September 16, 2017 |website=Kotaku |date=April 28, 2016}}</ref> Should the uploader want to monetize the video again, they may remove the disputed audio in the "Video Manager".<ref>{{cite web |title=Remove Content ID claimed songs from my videos – YouTube Help |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2902117?hl=en |access-date=September 17, 2017 |publisher=Google Inc. |language=en}}</ref> YouTube has cited the effectiveness of Content ID as one of the reasons why the site's rules were modified in December 2010 to allow some users to upload videos of unlimited length.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Siegel |first1=Joshua |last2=Mayle |first2=Doug |date=December 9, 2010 |title=Up, Up and Away – Long videos for more users |url=https://youtube.googleblog.com/2010/12/up-up-and-away-long-videos-for-more.html |access-date=March 25, 2017 |website=Official YouTube Blog}}</ref>