Don’t be a YouTube copycat
We love seeing all the videos being made by our creative staff and would love to host them on VCH`s YouTube account. In order for us to host them we just need to make sure copyrighted materials are being used properly. If not, YouTube might decide to remove your video or even the whole channel.
What is copyright?
Copyright is when a “person creates an original work that is fixed in a physical medium, he or she automatically owns copyright to the work. Copyright ownership gives the owner the exclusive right to use the work in certain, specific ways. Many types of works are eligible for copyright protection”, as defined by YouTube.
Can I use copyrighted materials in my video?
If you are looking to use copyrighted materials in a video you must have the permission of the person who owns the copyright. The best
There is one exception to this rule, fair use. Fair use is the ability to use copyrighted materials without the owner’s permission.
There are four points to keep in mind in determining fair use. They are:
- The purpose of the use
- The nature of the copyrighted work
- The amount of copyrighted material being used
- The effect of the use on the value of the copyrighted materials
Check out a more detailed description of fair use, and when it applies, on YouTube.
What if I give credit for the copyrighted material?
Your video can still cause copyright infringement, even if you have done one or more of the following:
- Given credit to the copyright owner
- Are not profiting from video using copyrighted material
- Purchased the content on iTunes, a CD or DVD
- Recorded the music yourself from the TV, a movie theater, the radio, or any kind of background music
- Stated that you do not own the copyrighted material and that no copyright infringement is intended
What music can I use in my videos?
Most programs used to edit videos have stock music available to use within videos, without worry of copyright infringement.
YouTube also provides music in their video editor. When editing a video, select audio and you will see a list of music available for you to use.
There are also sites where you can obtain royalty-free music. These sites typically charge per song, but once paid for can be used an unlimited amount of times.
Examples of these sites include: