If your YouTube video receives an audio Content ID claim, you can usually resolve it by removing or replacing the claimed music or by disputing the claim if you have the appropriate rights.
A standard Content ID claim is not the same as a copyright strike and generally does not affect your channel’s standing. However, it can affect the video’s monetization or availability.
How to Find the Claim
In YouTube Studio:
- Sign in to YouTube Studio.
- Select Content from the left-hand menu.
- Find the affected video. You can use the copyright filter to narrow your results.
- Locate the Copyright notice under Restrictions and select See details.
- Review the claimed content and the available actions.
Edit the Claimed Audio
Depending on the claim, YouTube may provide several editing options:
- Trim out segment: Remove the portion of the video containing the copyrighted music.
- Replace song: Replace the claimed track with eligible music from YouTube’s Audio Library.
- Erase song: Remove the claimed music. In some cases, YouTube may attempt to remove only the song while preserving dialogue and other sounds.
If the edit successfully removes all of the claimed material, the associated Content ID claim can be cleared.
Dispute the Claim
If you believe the claim is incorrect, you may be able to submit a dispute instead of editing your video.
Possible reasons include:
- You own the rights: You created and control the copyrighted material.
- You have permission or a license: Your agreement gives you the necessary rights to use the content on YouTube.
- The content is in the public domain: The material is no longer protected by copyright.
- Copyright exception: You believe your use qualifies under an applicable exception, such as fair use in the United States.
Only dispute a claim when you have a legitimate basis for doing so.
What Happens After a Dispute?
For an initial Content ID dispute, the claimant generally has 30 days to respond. They may:
- Release the claim
- Reinstate/uphold the claim
- Allow the claim to expire by not responding
- In some circumstances, submit a copyright removal request
When monetization is involved during a dispute, revenue may be held and later distributed to the appropriate party once the dispute is resolved.
