YouTube Reused Content Policy — Explained!

Thomas Kim, director of creator monetization, sits down with Rene Ritchie, @YouTubeInsider , to talk all about reused content — what it is, how YouTube thinks about it, what creators can do to avoid YouTube Partner Program rejection or suspension, and more!

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Creator Insider is an informal YouTube channel to share information from the YouTube Creator technical team with the wider Creator community. We will feature different people talking about the products they work on and changes we are making so you have more context.

[BlenderRookie]

I had a channel that was demonetized on Jan 15th 2024 and then after 90 days I was refused reentry into the partner program because they claimed my channel had "reused content". Which was complete BS. 100% of the videos was recorded and edited by me. When I contacted YT about it, they simply reiterated the same canned nonsense as in this video. But they could not provide one example of any reused content. But it didn't matter. YT stole $100s of my already earned ad revenue and there was nothing I could do. YT and google is not an honest company. Small creators and even medium size creators don't stand a chance. They don't have the influence to create a big enough campaign to overturn these nonsensical rulings and they don't make enough money to sue YT for breach of contract. I don't even think my communication with YT was with a real person. It was too repetitive and we entered a logical loop multiple times. I am 99% sure I was talking with an AI.

[SoulSearch]

I don't think YouTube is completely transparent and fair across the board. There are tons of channels out here that rack up solely off reuses content

[swordsandstarships]

Here's feedback: Make HUMANS available to contact for all YouTube partners instead of AI. Make it possible for creators to TALK TO SOMEONE when there's a TOS or demonetization issue.

[DVDfeverGames]

It's utterly pointless that you don't actually tell anyone WHICH VIDEO is causing the problem, so they can work out if something has been misidentified, leaving the user to just delete loads of stuff.

And get humans to help us, Team YouTube is staffed by bots.

And stop saying "off of". You mean "from".

[CrownieDubsBL]

I got demonetized for that even though I showed them my Premiere timeline where I spent hours on the video. I think they don't use humans to review the appeal at all. Everything is AI or the Reviewers are not doing their job well.

[AuthenTech]

Dear YouTube, please please please work hard at this... all these "montage" channels that straight up steal popular footage and mash them into a simple "best of the day" video is the weakest show of effort in "transformative” use. At minimum, healthy and clear auto attribution back to the original sources, plus fair and equitable distribution of monetization to the original creator would be the first in the industry, and truly groundbreaking.

[Nogardtist]

reused content may mean that youtube just dont want to pay creators ad revenue

[IloveRumania]

I get demonetized for uploading archived videos but Sniperwolf, who uploads repeated content, is allowed to stay?! WHAT?!

[HispleMedia]

Reuse content is becoming even more popular than the real creator contents. Youtube needs to need to do something about it. someone will take your video, put his face by one side and repost. its annoying

[miloshk]

There are channels with millions and millions of view that build upon short snippets of other creators videos, but those creators do not get any reward, they do not even know someone is building wealth upon their work, because the snippets are under certain threshold and they do not get reported by the Content ID sustem. Do you plan to do anything about that?

[YouKnowTGreen]

The main thing YouTube needs to do is show us the creators where in the video is used content or give us a chance to correct the video. Not wake up to find our page is un-monetized and now we have to appeal which often fails just to wait 90 days to be back accepted!

[TopFactology]

The most controversial and dishonest policy with no clear understanding whatsoever of what is "reused content" and what is not... A lot of channels still go on about producing videos with very little effort, slideshows with captions and background music, and they keep on and on, reopening new channels like mushrooms and they don't get demonetized ever. Double standards at its finest... YouTube has to admit that they apply same rule differently to different group of people. It's a fact...

[Darek_B]

I was demonetized over making highlights of my own streams. GREAT job.

[JILANAINUSA]

If we reuse the content? Is there a forgiveness? Can you tell us what video is it? Sometimes, we forget that we already uploaded the same video and we didn't realize that.

[WhenEvilFollows]

This youtube system simply doesn't work. I advise any small time or middle Creator to NOT put your hope, love, sweaters, blood, and dreams, hard work into believing youtube is a fair way to go.

[SpiritIntuitiveTarot]

Dear YouTube, DO BETTER and please reevaluate your AI/Content Duplication Test! My channel recently got removed from your Partnership Program for "reusing content" and, after submitting my 5 minute video to appeal, my monetization was DENIED for not explaining how I edit my videos and the origin of my content. I primarily do LIVESTREAMS. I DO NOT EDIT anything. All questions for tarot readings, discussion, fun, etc. originate from the viewers during collaborations. All of my content is NOT SCRIPTED. I collaborate with other channels through STREAMYARD and we SIMULCAST to our individual channels. Lisa Live! consists of me INTERACTING WITH A LIVE AUDIENCE! My theory is that STREAMYARD AND YouTube are not interfacing appropriately. I mentioned ALL of this and more during my APPEAL VIDEO TO YOU. Pay close attention to the feedback you are receiving in your video. You are incorrectly penalizing the wrong people.

- Lisa Smith / Spirit Intuitive Tarot

[GBGuns]

I'm getting really tired of seeing stolen content on faceless AI channels, often misrepresenting the content they stole.

[Ehmak]

Reused Content Policy system is Broken. I've had my own channel removed from YPP for reused content while i create my Own Original Content and i've explained it to the review team so many times. also so many channels try & steal from my channel and use my own original clips in their videos and shorts. I want the system to be completely transparent because reused content policy strike is worse than a copyright strike, it completely removes you from YPP without any Warnings or indicators about a certain video.

[KarimJovian]

What about content creators who reupload their own old content repurposed or re-edited? Seems you are punishing creators who do that and not creators who steal and profit off of others videos

Can we have access to content ID like MCNs use to do? I have an old MSN that still gets residuals from people uploading my content

Is there anyway to have rights manager and be in control of your own content that is being reuploaded and stolen by others? Like choosing to monetize it or block it

[FunSquadStudios]

Any rules or guidelines on re-purposing content that we already own and have uploaded? (like compilations or shorter clips from our longform vids)? I know we aren't supposed to re-upload the same video that we have already uploaded, but what is allowed and what isn't? Any guidelines on this?