Unauthorized use of Content ID

Content ID is a powerful tool. YouTube requires us to prevent any unauthorized use of Content ID.

YouTube does not authorize the use of Content ID to benefit from popular 3rd party content, or to specifically monetize videos on channels not in the YouTube Partner Program. Use of your music in videos should be organic user-generated content.

For example, inserting your sound recording or video into a Simpsons episode for the purpose of claiming it is not authorized. The viewers of the video came to watch a Simpson episode — they did not watch the video to hear your song.

Further examples of unauthorized usage on YouTube include (non-exhaustive list):

• Creating a compilation video with other musicians' songs and inserting your sound recording as an outro.

• Overlaying your music on a scene from a popular movie.

• Using your own video in a compilation of other videos to claim and monetize the compilation.

Whereas you may see such videos on YouTube, their use may be acceptable if they are true UGC (user-generated content). But if they are the result of an orchestrated campaign by you or your client, then they are in clear violation of YouTube's Content ID policies.

When Content ID is used to monetize videos that could not otherwise be monetized, or to earn revenue from videos (partly) consisting of third-party content, the usage will be considered unauthorized.