What is YouTube Content ID?
YouTube Content ID is a service available to Amuse Pro/Boost users that helps you identify when your music is used in a video on YouTube. It also allows you to monetize videos that have used your music without permission.
Only original music is eligible for YouTube Content ID, meaning samples or any other elements that are deemed a copyright infringement on YouTube’s policy, are denied YouTube Content ID.
Keep in mind that when YouTube Content ID is added, YouTube Music is automatically included as well. This is a requirement from YouTube's side.
Who can request it?
This is an Amuse Pro/Boost feature, meaning it's only available if you have an upgraded Pro or Boost subscription. For Pro users, it's available for no extra charge. For Boost users, there's a 15% fee for Content ID ad revenue.
Start users don't have access to YouTube Content ID. If YouTube Content ID is important for you, we recommend that you get a Pro/Boost subscription.
What does it take to get Content ID?
To acquire YouTube Content ID, the material must be 100% your own. Therefore, beats and loops that are non-exclusive may not be considered your own and can not be provided with Content ID. This includes all copyright free sounds, since if Content ID is provided, other artists' tracks that have used the same sounds will also be claimed.
These are the requirements for Content ID:
- Only original music with all sounds recorded by you, or which you have an exclusive license to use (meaning no one else will use those sounds in their tracks)
- No beats or instrumentals that have previously been, or are currently available for licensing by other artists
- No beats, loops or sound effects downloaded from sample libraries. This includes any free sounds included in Logic, Pro Tools, Garage Band etc.
- No samples from other songs, movies, TV shows, podcasts, video games, YouTube videos etc
- No public domain recordings/songs
- No remixes/mashups or medleys
- No alternative versions (Live, Remastered, Acoustic, Instrumental etc.)
- No soundtracks/scores or stock/production music
- No nature sounds, ASMR, educational content, meditation, prayers or church services, speeches, audio books or other content that isn't original commercial music
Even if it's legal for you to use these sounds, it's not possible to add Content ID to any tracks including any of these things.
We know this may seem like a lot of rules, but it's just to make sure that the YouTube Content ID system works properly and claims the correct content. Also, incorrect claiming may lead to legal consequences for the user, so we make sure to only add Content ID to tracks which are eligible for it.
When does Content ID start claiming?
When Content ID is added to your track, it will start processing every video ever uploaded on YouTube immediately. Content ID prioritizes scanning the most popular videos on YouTube before it moves on to scan the videos with less popularity and so on.
YouTube has existed since 2005 and Content ID scans every single video ever uploaded on the platform. It can sometimes take up to 6 months before Content ID has scanned all the video and claimed the correct content. Please have patience and trust the system.
If you get a copyright claim message:
You might get a copyright claim message from YouTube saying that Amuse is claiming your content on YouTube. This is because we request Content ID on your behalf.
If you see a message like this, it simply means the system is working correctly and we are collecting your revenue on your behalf. All of your ad revenue will be paid out by Amuse to you together with your other royalties from stores.
Read more here: YouTube Copyright Claims.