This video may not look like much — it’s just two laps of Nelson Ledges in my Volkswagen Phaeton — but it’s currently the subject of some YouTube drama.
I put the video up nine years ago and almost immediately forgot about it. This morning, however, I was notified that it’s being “monetized” by two separate record companies.
The interesting thing is that the song, “Three Flights Up” is being claimed by two of Metheny’s last three record labels. Probably because they can’t figure out whether the song came from the original master of “Question & Answer”, which was released by Geffen, or the Nonesuch remaster. I could tell them, but why would I?
I’ll take this video down shortly, since it seems to be causing some drama and also because I don’t want readers to have the mistaken impression that I’ve enabled ads on my videos. The ads are placed there against my will by YouTube as a punishment. Interesting, eh?
It’s more than interesting. This has been happening for awhile now with all sorts of subject matter on Youtube. At least the monetization bit doesn’t result in your video being removed or automatically silenced. That’s been happening for a lot of folks lately.
Worse is when you have a video snippet for commentary or critique and the entire video is removed, however. As you’ve noted, YouTube then “punishes” you like you are a villain, often with little to no recourse other than to remove your content.
It’s a real issue, because what’s the alternative? No other video sharing site has the reach of YouTube. Lets say that you get enough of these that they ban you. That’s material harm to your business prospects, without recourse. You can argue they are a private company without any obligation to let you use their services, but can you realistically say that someone like YouTube (or google search), or, say, Facebook doesn’t have a monopoly on video/search/eyeball revenue when they represent more than 80% of each respective market?
I know you don’t currently gain any income from these sources, but consider the implications if you did.
I imagine Youtube is constantly getting hammered with DMCA takedown notices, so at this point they’re being indiscriminate.
Actually, the situation is far more weighted than that.
YouTube caved to the labels some time ago, and created a system whereby they labels can automatically take down, monetize, silence, or otherwise report works in a completely automated fashion. It literally could not be more indescriminate - the system uses autodetection of songs and a few checkboxes outlining what a label would like done with a given “infringer”. It’s free money for them.
In the case of the offending party (Like Jack, here), they receive a “strike” on their account, and receiving enough of these will ban them from YouTube. Again, in an automated fashion.
Perhaps the most nefarious part of the process is that even if you contest these “offences”, they still count against your account.
Here’s an article from 2014 on the scope of the issue:
http://boingboing.net/2014/02/23/how-youtubes-automated-copyr.html
How was the phaeton on the track?
Slow: it ran a 1:36 when most reasonable modern sports cars will run a 1:20 or so. But it was on all-season.
Ad’s you say? What ad’s?
Hooray Ad Block Plus.
Totally off topic, but it looks like we stole your Ruth’s Chris. This may provide a nice excuse to visit Sweetwater.
http://wane.com/2016/02/12/ruths-chris-to-open-upscale-steakhouse-in-new-skyline-tower/
You ain’t shit if you ain’t makin’ TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS a month reviewing HEMI HELLCAT POWER.
Is that you BTSR? Is this me?
HURRRRR!
DURRRRR!
I’ve gotten a few of these notices about videos I’ve shot at car shows and events. It’s annoying as hell and as an owner of a patent, numerous copyrights and trademarks I’ll say that it’s just another case of powerful owners of intellectual property using extralegal methods to expand their rights. The last notice I got was because a Bluesmobile replica was playing Flip, Flop & Fly by the Blues Brothers as it passed by during the Woodward Dream Cruise. If there’s a DJ playing music at a car show, there’s a good chance I’ll get a notice.
Even if it doesn’t fall under fair use, which I believe it does, the owner of the copyright of the song has no right to monetize my own original work.
If it wasn’t so much of a hassle to edit and upload the video again, I’d edit out the songs and edit in a voiceover, with subtitles, saying that XYZ Music Publishing company are greedy jerks.