Content ID Eligibility

To fulfill the key component of the Content Commitment to YouTube, any sound recording delivered to Content ID should also be assigned to an asset (YouTube Art Track). YouTube will claim any content that matches the music of this art track. To avoid false claims on other artists' content, the distributed content must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Original compositions.
  • Content for which you have exclusive rights.
  • Tracks longer than 20 seconds.

Content ID will match your reference content against every upload to YouTube. Copyright owners must have the exclusive rights to the material being evaluated. Common examples of items that may not be exclusive to individuals include:

  • Mashups, “best of” compilations, and remixes of other works
  • Video gameplay, software visuals, trailers
  • Unlicensed music and video
  • Cover songs
  • Music or samples licensed without exclusivity
  • Recordings of performances (including concerts, events, speeches, shows)
  • Public domain content
  • Karaoke versions or cover versions
  • Content already distributed to YouTube by another partner
  • Music containing any audio library samples, sound effects, or production loops

Can I distribute to Content ID without YouTube Music (and Art Tracks)?

No, you cannot distribute music to YouTube Content ID unless the release is also made available on YouTube Music. An Art Track asset provided by Too Lost must be available on YouTube for the release to be eligible for Content ID.

However, you can deliver music to YouTube Music without opting for Content ID.


How Does Content ID work?

YouTube Content ID is a digital fingerprinting system developed by Google to identify and manage copyrighted content on YouTube. When videos are uploaded to YouTube, they are compared against audio and video files registered with Content ID by content owners to detect any matches.

When you activate the Content ID channel for your music, YouTube creates an invisible fingerprint reference that protects your distributed content and detects any third-party use of your catalog.

We use Content ID to collect revenue from videos that utilize your music.

Content ID is designed to protect your content on YouTube. If you do not have exclusive distribution rights and activate this option, it can cause property conflicts on YouTube, leading to potential issues with your channel and/or legal problems. Content ID can only be activated if you have 100% exclusive rights to the release, including the composition. If you have leased an instrumental or beat (from sites like BeatStars.com or traktrain.com), you are likely not eligible for Content ID on that track.

Please note: All videos using your audio, including your own, will be claimed. You will still earn revenue from your own channel, but it will only appear on your Catapult statements. By activating Content ID, you will receive a claim on your YouTube Channel. This is not a strike and will not harm your channel's standing. The claim notifies YouTube that the music used in the video is protected, and earnings from monetized views will be forwarded to your Catapult account.

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