I have many videos uploaded in my Youtube channel. Monetization is enabled for my channel. It so happened that Youtube has disputed the ownership of one of my videos - after three years. Now Youtube has disabled monetization on that particular video and asked me to submit necessary documentation to claim ownership. I am not a commercial film maker. My videos are all shot with mobile phone cameras and handycam. None of them has any paper certificate of ownership or license whatsoever. My question is, how do I convince Youtube now? Since Youtube did this after 3 years, I don't even have that original video file with me anymore! We don't store all video files eternally, do we? Over 150 videos in my channel, if Youtube starts disputing ownership after 3-5 years then what? How do I claim my ownership? OR, will Youtube continue to rip me off from ownership like this? Below is a part of the email received from Youtube: Please suggest me, how do I follow up such ownership disputes? *** My video didn't contain any piece of music. Shot in a crowded public place, not even any background music from any nearby music shop.
Prove you own the music and video. I've seen videos on the pages of musicians themselves get notices for infringing material sent by their record label...ON THE PAGE OF THE MUSICIANS THEMSELVES...It's hilarious how much these people have no idea how the internet works and try to pass regulations that end up hurting them more than actual infringers. Also, add a disclaimer in video descriptions that you don't own it and don't want to make it seem like you do. You'll still be allowed to monetize those. I always thought it was hilarious that youtube yells at users for using and linking to stuff on youtube servers...It's like me getting upset at you for hitting me when I asked you to hit me and am wearing a shirt that says "Hit me, I'm serious"
My video didn't contain any piece of music. Shot in a crowded place, not even any background music nearby.
Would it hurt you to reupload the video? I suggest you follow their email and learn how to claim ownership of your video, they're trying to help you out
I've contacted with Youtube's India support team. Very strangely enough, now they aren't at all talking about ownership of the video. I don't need to reupload as Youtube didn't take down my video. Its very much online. Now they say they've disabled monetization because video seems to be inappropriate. However, appropriateness wasn't what Youtube mentioned in email, they wrote about ownership as the reason for disabling ads (see above, I've pasted their email). Now support team is carefully not disputing ownership. That's OK! Deciding appropriateness is their prerogative, I've no problem in that.
At least they didn't took down the video. That is the only thing that happened with you. Its clearly youtube -like Google they have been following questionable rules so I am not surprised. Better move on and see if you can still put up adsense in your other vids. Rain
By posting this here, what I wanted to know is: how to claim ownership of my videos? I am not a commercial film maker whose every film is properly documented and copyrighted with paper certificates. Moreover, if Youtube disputes ownership after 3 or 4 years, I may not even have original copy of that video as we often delete not so important videos. So my question is: how does a normal user claim ownership of his/her video? Actually I was seeking an answer to handle this issue if it happens again and surprisingly 5 or 7 years after uploading it!