This article explains copyright claims on YouTube and why you might be seeing one from CD Baby, how to dispute a claim in order to have it released from a video, and how to request a manual claim. 

• I got a message saying that CD Baby is claiming my song on YouTube
• Handle monetization on my own
• I don't see claims on my videos yet
• How to submit a manual claim request

I got a message saying that CD Baby is claiming my song on YouTube

The claim notice you're seeing in your YouTube account is actually correct per the YouTube monetization program you opted into with CD Baby! You've received what is called a Content ID claim (this is NOT a copyright strike).

The claim from CD Baby means that YouTube’s Content ID system has identified your music in the video and has placed a claim for monetization. This tells YouTube to place an advertisement on the video which then allows CD baby to collect ad revenue on your behalf.

Rest assured that CD Baby does not own your content or copyright. We are just administering its use on YouTube as a result of your participation in the Content ID program. If you'd like to continue using YouTube monetization services there's no need to take action. 

If you prefer to handle the monetization of a video on your own, choose from the following 2 options:

1. Dispute CD Baby's claim from within your YouTube account. Here's how. Your dispute must include the following note:

   "My name is (YourName), I am a CD Baby artist (YourUsername) and I wish to handle my own monetization on this video."

   Our content ID analysts will review all the disputes received and release the claim on the video. If you fail to enter the above statement in your YouTube dispute, including the CD Baby username, the claim may be reinstated, so it is very important to include the statement and username. 

2. Opt-out of CD Baby’s YouTube monetization program completely. This will remove your music from YouTube’s Content ID program and stop claims from being placed on your channel as well as on any other third-party uploaded videos that contain your music.
   To do this, log into your CD Baby account, click "Sync, YouTube, Facebook & Instagram Licensing" and choose the release you'd like to remove. Flip the toggle to the off position for "Collect YouTube Money" and hit "Save Changes."

*Please note that once you have opted out of YouTube Content ID, you will not be able to opt that same release back in for a period of 30 days.

I don't see claims on my videos yet

When Content ID claims your video, you’ll get an email from YouTube, but you can take a look inside your YouTube account as well. Here's how:

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
2. From the left menu, click Content.
3. In the Restrictions column, if a video has a claim on it, it will be labeled Copyright claim.
4. Hover over Copyright claim in the Restrictions column and click SEE DETAILS.
5. Click the down arrow  to expand the claim details.

If you have not received a claim on a video when the content has been opted into YouTube Content ID for longer than 3 weeks, or you published a new video 3 weeks ago that is still not claimed, we can manually claim it for you. 

How to submit a manual claim request

Submit a manual claim request here. Please include the following information:

• CD Baby username:
• YouTube Video link:
• Artist name:
• Song title that is featured in the video:
• Album title:
• *Start Time:
• *End Time:

*Timestamps need to be as accurate as possible, so please list the time where the audio starts, as well as the time where the audio stops in the video. Add additional segments if your content appears in more than one part of the video. If the audio fills the entire video, just write "entire video."

*Reminder: YouTube requires channels to have 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours to qualify for YouTube Ad Monetization, also known as the YouTube Partner Program. We can still claim your video, but ads will not be placed until your channel meets those requirements.