YouTube Users Not Thrilled With New Copyright School

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Google (and YouTube before it was bought) has taken a variety of steps over the years to educate its users on copyright issues and discipline them when the message doesn’t get through.

The latest of those is being called Copyright School; it’s a combination video and quiz that YouTube will force offenders to watch and pass before they’ll be allowed to upload more content.

likes-dislikesHow’s the video going over so far with YouTube users? Like a lead balloon. As of this moment, “dislikes” are outnumbering “likes” by almost 4-to-1.

There’s no way to tell if they’re rejecting the entire notion of Copyright School, or just the childish and silly video that YouTube made to explain it. “Russell” and “Lumpy”? “Happy Tree Friends”? Please. Actually, they’re probably rejecting both. (YouTube wisely turned off comments on that video; the Internet might’ve imploded if they hadn’t.)

YouTube is also changing its copyright enforcement policies a bit, and this part should go over better with the membership: YouTube’s “three strikes” policy is getting a little softer.

…today we’ll begin removing copyright strikes from user’s accounts in certain limited circumstances, contingent upon the successful completion of YouTube Copyright School, as well as a solid demonstrated record of good behavior over time. Expiration of strikes is not guaranteed, and as always, YouTube may terminate an account at any time for violating our Terms of Service.

YouTube has also updated its copyright help center.

Related Topics: Channel: Video | Google: YouTube & Video | Legal: Copyright


About The Author: is Editor-In-Chief of Search Engine Land. His news career includes time spent in TV, radio, and print journalism. His web career continues to include a small number of SEO and social media consulting clients, as well as regular speaking engagements at marketing events around the U.S. He blogs at Small Business Search Marketing and can be found on Twitter at @MattMcGee and/or on Google Plus. You can read Matt's disclosures on his personal blog.

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  • http://www.spiderwritingseo.co.uk/ billmarshall

    This of course is the same Google that decided it could copy millions of books and then use them for its own advancement. Hmmmm. And they wonder why Youtube users would take a similar approach with videos.

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