YouTube May Bring An Abbreviated Version Of Its Content ID Copyright Tool To The Masses

YouTube is beta testing a new feature called Copyright Match that would bring an abbreviated version of its Content ID tool to the masses.

In a sneak peak video on its Creator Insider channel (see below), YouTube product manager Barbara Macdonald explained that Copyright Match will help creators crack down on other channels who frustratingly reupload their works. “[Copyright Match] will let you identify who reuploaders are and let you take some actions,” she explains — including doing nothing, contacting the offending channel, or asking YouTube to delete the video in question.

While Copyright Match works like Content ID in that it scans a database of reference files for prospective duplicates, the Content ID tool offers more sophisticated and robust options that Copyright Match doesn’t — including the ability for rights holders to monetize infringing videos, or to track their analytics. Additionally, while Copyright Match is only able to catch identical video-for-video reuploads, Content ID is more sophisticated in that it can detect audio or video infringement that occurs within a shorter segment of a clip.

Macdonald said that Copyright Match may roll out to more creators

beyond the initial pilot test in coming weeks. Content ID, on the other hand, is only available to select applicants who “must own exclusive rights to a substantial body of original material that is frequently uploaded by the YouTube user community,” according to the company’s ‘Help’ pages. (You can check out the application to receive Content ID access here, and read more about how to qualify right here).

YouTube did not respond to request for comment.

“We understand the frustrations that creators feel when their IP is used without a proper license because we’ve been providing Content ID and manual claims services since 2013,” Soung Kang, COO of digital talent network and rights management provider Collab, tells Tubefilter of the test. “The copyright tool is a step in the right direction, but I would be interested to see how this tool resolves disputes because there’s so much misinformation in the community regarding fair use.”

Kang added that if a creator notices that Copyright Match happens to be catching numerous reuploads, it may be worth it to contact a digital rights management service to pursue monetization of the infringements.