YouTube is a platform where originality and creativity thrive. However, it’s also a platform where content theft runs rampant. Someone can download your videos and repost them on their channel. And they may buy views for their YouTube and surpass yours.
While content theft has always been an issue on the platform, it has been the subject of controversy quite recently, with many react channels being accused of using other people’s content without being transformative. This post will tell you what you can do if you suspect your content is being stolen.
Why Do People Steal Content?
The first question is why people steal other's YouTube content in the first place. The main reason is that the content thief wants views and clout, yet they do not want to put the effort into making their own content.
For some, it’s much easier to download someone else's work and repost it as their own. However, it's much easier than ever to figure out who's using your content through copyright check tools.
Another reason people steal content is that more prominent channels assume that if they use content from smaller channels, the owners will be honored because the more significant channel gives them exposure. This idea is further justified if the more prominent channel credits the smaller channel.
However, if the bigger channel does not add anything to the original video, many people will not even bother to check out the smaller channel. The small channel may also feel annoyed that their hard work is being used by someone else earning money.
Use the Copyright Match Tool
With billions of videos on the platform, you may wonder how to find people using your content. Luckily, Google makes it easy to find using their copyright match tool. To use this tool, visit YouTube Studio > Copyright > Matches.
There, you can see which videos are potentially using your content. Now, remember that just because there is a match, it doesn't mean that someone is necessarily violating your copyrights. With this tool, however, you can review the footage and decide what to do next.
You have several options when you click on a video that may be using your copyrights. You can archive the video, meaning the matching video will be sent to the archives folder for review later. You can then request the removal of the video, where you can submit a request.
Finally, you can choose to contact the channel. This option is ideal to settle the issue without affecting another person's channel.
Remember That Fair Use is Important
Just because someone is using your content doesn't mean they're violating your copyrights. Fair use is what a majority of YouTube is built on. Fair use is when someone uses a copyrighted work for commentary, criticism, education, and other justifiable reasons.
However, Not everyone who uses someone else's work can claim fair use. Here are the four factors determining whether someone somewhat uses another person's content.
- The purpose of the use. Is the work used for nonprofit or educational reasons, or is it for profit and entertainment? A work used for profit does not necessarily exclude it from fair use, and vice versa, but it can play a part.
- The nature. If you’re using someone’s fictional works, like critiquing a movie, you have less justification than a nonfiction work.
- The amount used. Say someone used a small clip from your video and responded to it. This technique is a more vigorous fair-use justification than if they played your entire video without saying much.
- The market effect. Would watching someone's video they made about you be a substitute for watching yours? If so, the person using the content has less of a fair use case.
Fair use is a complicated law, and each case is different. However, many YouTubers will look down on you if you're copyright-striking channels using their works in a transformative way. This rule applies if someone criticizes your work and you take down their video because you do not like the criticism. However, if a react channel uses your content and does not add much commentary, many people will understand if you want to take your videos down.
What if You Find Content Not Detected by the Tool?
YouTube's copyright match tools are powerful, especially as AI evolves. However, things slip through the cracks. Alternatively, some thieves will alter the video enough so that YouTube's bots do not detect it.
If you're regularly becoming a victim of theft, you may want to use the keywords associated with your content regularly. You may notice that someone has reuploaded your video or is reacting to it in a way that does not feel like fair use.
Did you find a video that is using your content? You can manually report it. You can go to the channel using your content and click More > Report, represented by the three dots and the flag icon. Then, click Legal issue. You should be able to select which videos violate your copyright.
If you are filing a copyright claim, be sure that the claim is valid. You may be in trouble if you file false copyright claims. If YouTube determines that you're making false copyright claims, it may terminate your channel.
Final Thoughts
YouTube can be an excellent platform for creativity, and one way creativity thrives is if everyone creates original content or adds to someone else's videos. If people are stealing content left and right, then no one wins. Don't think that because you're small, no one will want to steal your content. Many larger channels steal smaller channel's content. Don't let them get away with it. By using YouTube's tools, you can find people who are using your videos. Then, you can review these videos. If you believe it's not fair use, you can report them. However, if the video meets all the fair use criteria, you may want to leave them be. We hope this article was helpful.
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).