YouTube cuts Content ID appeal period from 30 days to seven

YouTube is shortening the waiting window for creators who want to dispute Content ID flags.

Content ID, for those who don’t know, is YouTube’s automatic system that sweeps for unathorized use of copyrighted content like songs and movie/TV clips. When a content creator’s video is flagged by Content ID, they have two options: remove the copyrighted content and reupload their video; or, if they don’t think any copyrighted content has been unfairly used, they can file a dispute.

If a creator files a dispute, copyright owners have 30 days to manually review the video and its supposed violation and decide whether Content ID’s flag was accurate. That can mean up to 30 days where a creator’s video—whether it ends up containing copyrighted content or not—is demonetized or even unavailable for viewing.

That initial dispute window is not changing. Copyright owners will still have 30 days to review disputes.

What is being shortened is the appeal window after a dispute is rejected.

Creators whose disputes are turned down can appeal, asking YouTube and the copyright owner to take another look at their videos and (presumably) see they didn’t use copyrighted content unfairly.

Before today, that appeal period was another 30 days. But now, YouTube is narrowing it to seven days.

“We’ve heard the Content ID Dispute process is top of mind for many of you: you’ve shared that the process can take too long, and can have long-term impact on your channel, specifically when claims result in viewing restrictions or monetization impact,” Rob, a member of Team YouTube, wrote in a Community post about the change. “We hope shortening the timespan of the appeals process helps you get claims resolved much faster!”

Some creators can now skip straight to appeals

While YouTube isn’t shortening the 30-day dispute period, it is adding another option for creators hit with what it calls “block claims,” where Content ID prevents creators from uploading their video at all because it thinks copyrighted content has been used.

Previously, block claims were treated the same as any other Content ID flag. Creators had to file a dispute and wait up to 30 days, and if the dispute was rejected wait up to another 30 for an appeal.

Now YouTube lets creators hit by block claims choose to escalate their case straight to the appeal stage. And with the new, shorter appeal stage, that means creators who pick this option will wait a maximum of seven days for a response from a copyright owner. (If the owner does not respond within seven days, the case expires.)

It is worth noting, though, that this faster option appears to mean creators will give up one half of the dispute process. If they decide to skip straight to the appeal portion and the copyright owner rejects their appeal, that’s it—case closed.

“As always, disputes and appeals are only intended for cases where you have all the necessary rights to the content in your video—for example, you’ve licensed the content from the owner, or you believe your use qualifies for an exception to copyright like fair use or fair dealing,” Team YouTube says.

You can see more about disputing and appealing Content ID claims here and here, respectively.