Available in YouTube Studio Content Manager
In Content Manager, there are two types of policies used to control how your content is handled across YouTube:
1. Upload Policies (Usage Policies)
Upload policies apply to videos you directly upload to your own channel.
They tell YouTube what to do with your content when you publish it, such as:
- Monetize the video
- Track its performance
- Block it from being viewed
These policies create a partner-uploaded claim and apply only to your own uploads.
Key point:
Upload policies are about how YOUR content is used on YOUR channel.
2. Match Policies
Match policies apply to other people’s videos that contain your content.
When YouTube’s Content ID system detects your content in someone else’s upload, a claim is automatically created based on your match policy.
Match policies decide whether to:
- Monetize the video
- Track its usage
- Block the video
They can also define when and how Content ID should claim a video, based on:
- Type of match (audio, video, or both)
- How much of the user video matches your content
- How much of your reference file matches the upload
- Whether the video should be sent for manual review
Key point:
Match policies control how YOUR content is handled when others upload it.
Main Difference
Both policies use the same core actions (monetize, track, block), but differ in how they are applied:
| Policy Type | Applied To | Who Uses It |
|---|---|---|
| Upload Policy | Your own uploads | You |
| Match Policy | Other creators’ videos | Content ID system |
- You can create a single policy that applies to both uploads and matches
- However, if a policy includes advanced Content ID matching rules, it cannot be used as an upload policy
- Upload policies are simpler because they do not involve Content ID matching conditions
