There’s a moment of panic every YouTube creator knows: you’ve just uploaded your latest video, and a notification pops up—“Copyright claim found.”
What does it mean? Is your channel in trouble? Will your video be taken down? The world of YouTube copyright can be confusing, but understanding the system is the best way to protect your hard work.
This guide will demystify YouTube’s copyright system, explain the difference between a claim and a strike, and show you how to avoid issues altogether.
What is Content ID?
At the heart of YouTube’s copyright system is an automated tool called Content ID. Large music labels, movie studios, and music libraries (like ours) upload their catalogs of audio and video to this system.
Content ID then automatically scans every single video uploaded to YouTube, looking for matches. If it finds a piece of music or a video clip in your upload that matches something in its database, it automatically places a copyright claim on your video on behalf of the copyright owner.
Copyright Claim vs. Copyright Strike: What’s the Difference?
This is the most important distinction to understand. They are not the same thing.
A Copyright Claim (Content ID Claim):
- What it is: An automated notification that you’ve used copyrighted content. This is not a punishment.
- What happens: One of a few things, decided by the copyright owner:
- Monetize the video: The copyright owner can place ads on your video and collect all the revenue. This is the most common outcome.
- Track the video’s stats: The owner can simply watch the video’s analytics.
- Block the video: In some cases, the owner can block your video from being viewed in certain countries or worldwide.
- Does it hurt your channel? No. A Content ID claim does not negatively affect your channel’s standing. You are not in “trouble.”
A Copyright Strike:
What it is: A formal, legal takedown request filed by a copyright owner who believes their work has been used without permission. This is serious. What happens:
- Your video is removed from YouTube.
- You get a “strike” against your channel.
Does it hurt your channel? Yes, absolutely.
- 1 Strike: You may lose access to features like live streaming. The strike expires after 90 days if you complete YouTube’s “Copyright School.”
- 2 Strikes: If you get a second strike within that 90-day period, you’ll have more features restricted.
- 3 Strikes: If you get three copyright strikes, your channel, all associated channels, and all your videos will be permanently deleted from YouTube.
How to Avoid Copyright Issues Entirely
The stress of claims and the fear of strikes can be completely avoided by making one simple choice: only use music you have the legal right to use.
This is where a royalty-free music subscription service becomes essential for any serious creator.
When you subscribe to a platform like(https://universeoftracks.com/), you are purchasing a license that gives you the legal permission to use our music in your videos. We work with YouTube’s Content ID system to ensure our subscribers are protected.
What If I Use Licensed Music and Still Get a Claim?
Occasionally, the automated Content ID system can make a mistake. If you’ve licensed a track from our library and you receive a claim, do not panic. This is easily resolved.
- You have the license: Your subscription is your proof that you have the right to use the music.
- Dispute the claim: In YouTube Studio, you can easily dispute the claim. You’ll be asked for a justification, where you can state that you have a valid license to use the track from Universe of Tracks.
- The claim is released: We (or our partners) will see the dispute, verify your license, and release the claim, usually within 24-48 hours. All monetization will be returned to you.
Conclusion: Create with Confidence
YouTube’s copyright system is designed to protect artists, but it can be intimidating for creators. By understanding the difference between a claim and a strike, and by committing to using properly licensed, royalty-free music, you can remove the fear and focus on what you do best: creating amazing content.
