Looks like YouTube's Content ID could still use some work. So could the company.
Paul Davids had one thing in mind two years ago. He wanted to share his latest track on YouTube.
Admittedly, the Dutch guitarist doesn't have a lot of followers on YouTube. Yet, he loves sharing new music to his over 625,000 subscribers. Davids also loves teaching people how to play the guitar.
One day, after uploading his track, YouTube got in contact with Davids. He had apparently infringed on another YouTuber's track.
But, here's the thing – Davids actually hadn't. And, YouTube hasn't done anything about it.
The case of YouTube's imperfect Content ID system.
In an attempt to appease copyright holders, Google installed a 'digital fingerprinting' system in 2007. Dubbed Content ID, the system would automatically scan user-generated content on the video platform to identify and take down infringing works.
Yet, Content ID is far from perfect.
In 2015, Mitch Martinez, a video creator, licensed stock footage to Sony Music Entertainment. SME then filed a claim against Martinez' video on YouTube after the label uploaded a music video featuring Martinez's work. After a lengthy dispute, Sony Music and Epic Records dropped the copyright infringement claim.
Eight years ago, YouTube prevented Justin Bieber from uploading his new song. Someone had apparently uploaded 'Pray' first. The video platform eventually corrected the issue, but not before blaming Bieber's label first. On Twitter, the company tweeted,
"@justinbieber sorry about the upload pain around 'Pray.' That's between you and your label but we love you [both] so let's figure this out!"
Davids, unfortunately, didn't receive the same 'love.'
Right after uploading his track, another YouTuber uploaded the same song three weeks ago, but with vocals and guitar added. The video platform immediately claimed Davids – not the other YouTuber – stole the work. So, YouTube demonetized the Dutch guitarist's original track.
Speaking with the BBC, Davids explained,
"Someone took my track, added vocals and guitar to make their own track, and uploaded it to YouTube, but I got the copyright infringement notice!"
YouTube regrettably didn't help much. So, Davids went in search of the offender. After a short conversation on Facebook, where the Dutch guitarist flat-out accused the person of copying the work, the other YouTuber merely replied,
"That's quite odd since I wrote and recorded it."
YouTube has yet to issue a statement addressing the problem.
Paul Davids has ultimately decided to let the copycat keep using his track. Lamenting YouTube's poor payouts and lack of help, the Dutch guitarist said,
"It's not like he will make tons of money with it. It's OK. It probably happens all the time."
You can check out Davids' story for yourself below.
Featured image by Paul Davids (YouTube screengrab)
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