Content ID
Policy

What Is Content ID?

YouTube Content ID is a rights-management technology that can identify matching or potentially matching uses of registered audio or audiovisual content on YouTube.

Depending on the applicable service, Content ID may allow eligible rights holders to:

• Identify matching content
• Track usage
• Monetize eligible uses
• Manage claims
• Review usage information

Content ID is operated according to YouTube's applicable policies and requirements.

Content ID Is Not Automatic

Distribution of a release does not automatically mean that the release will be accepted into Content ID.

Each recording may be reviewed for eligibility.

NK Music Distribution may reject or restrict Content ID registration even if the release itself is accepted for normal distribution.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for Content ID, the User must have sufficient rights to authorize rights management for the submitted content.

Depending on the content, this may require:

• Ownership of the Master Recording
• Appropriate exclusive rights
• Valid authorization
• Rights to monetize the relevant uses
• Rights to administer claims

The User must not submit content to Content ID merely because they possess a copy of the recording.

Master Rights

The User must have appropriate rights in the specific sound recording submitted for Content ID.

Where requested, the User may be required to provide:

• Master Rights Agreement
• Master NOC
• Assignment Agreement
• Distribution Agreement
• License Agreement
• Label authorization
• Other ownership evidence

Composition and Publishing Rights

Content ID administration primarily concerns the applicable recording and rights-management service.

Ownership of a sound recording does not automatically establish ownership of:

• Composition
• Lyrics
• Publishing rights
• Other underlying rights

Users remain responsible for clearing all applicable underlying rights.

Exclusive Rights

Certain Content ID uses may require sufficient exclusive or otherwise eligible rights.

Content containing non-exclusive material may not qualify.

Examples may include:

• Non-exclusive beats
• Royalty-free loops
• Stock music
• Shared production music
• Non-exclusive samples
• Library music
• Widely licensed recordings

Eligibility depends on the applicable rights and platform requirements.

Content That May Be Ineligible

Content may be rejected or restricted where it contains:

• Public-domain material
• Traditional or folk material
• Non-exclusive music
• Royalty-free music
• Stock music
• Sound effects
• Samples
• Loops
• Karaoke recordings
• DJ mixes
• Compilation recordings
• Cover recordings
• Third-party recordings
• Material already administered by another rights provider
• Material with conflicting ownership

Cover Songs

Cover recordings may have rights in the new Master Recording while the underlying composition belongs to another rights holder.

Because of this, cover recordings may be restricted from Content ID depending on the applicable rights and platform requirements.

The User is responsible for obtaining required licenses for the underlying composition.

Remixes and Derivative Works

A remix, mashup, re-edit or derivative work may require authorization from the relevant rights holders.

Content ID registration may be refused where sufficient rights cannot be established.

Samples and Loops

A recording containing third-party samples or loops may not be eligible for Content ID unless the User has the necessary rights.

A royalty-free license does not automatically provide exclusive Content ID rights.

Users should retain applicable license documentation.

Folk and Traditional Content

Traditional, folk, tribal and cultural recordings may contain material that is not exclusively controlled by the submitting User.

A newly recorded version does not automatically create exclusive rights over the underlying traditional work.

Content ID may therefore be restricted where exclusivity cannot reasonably be established.

Public Domain Content

Public-domain works may have limited Content ID eligibility depending on the recording and applicable rights.

A User must not claim exclusive rights over the underlying public-domain work merely because they have created a recording.

AI-Generated Content

AI-generated or AI-assisted recordings may be subject to additional review.

The User must ensure that:

• They have appropriate rights
• The applicable AI tool license permits the intended use
• No third-party rights are infringed
• No unauthorized voice cloning is used
• No artist is falsely impersonated
• Platform requirements are followed

NK Music Distribution may restrict Content ID for AI-assisted content where ownership or exclusivity cannot be reasonably established.

Voice Cloning

Content using a cloned or digitally replicated voice may require appropriate authorization.

Unauthorized replication of another person's voice or identity may result in:

• Content ID rejection
• Content removal
• Account restriction
• Other action under applicable policies

Content ID Registration

When Content ID is approved, NK Music Distribution or its authorized rights-management partner may register eligible reference content with the applicable platform.

Registration may involve:

• Audio fingerprinting
• Reference file creation
• Metadata submission
• Rights information
• Ownership information
• Monetization settings

Content ID Claims

When a registered reference matches content uploaded to YouTube, an automated claim may be generated.

Depending on applicable platform settings, a claim may:

• Monetize
• Track
• Restrict
• Otherwise manage the matched content

A Content ID claim is not automatically a copyright strike.

Claim Ownership

The User must only authorize claims for content that they have the necessary rights to administer.

Users must not knowingly:

• Claim another person's content
• Maintain false claims
• Claim public-domain material as exclusively owned
• Claim content they only have non-exclusive rights to
• Claim content controlled by another rights administrator

False Claims

If we determine that a User has submitted content for unauthorized claiming, we may:

• Release claims
• Remove the Content ID asset
• Suspend Content ID access
• Hold affected revenue
• Remove affected content
• Suspend the account
• Terminate the service

Claim Release

A Content ID claim may be released where:

• The claim is incorrect
• Ownership cannot be established
• A legitimate dispute is received
• The content is not eligible
• A platform requires release
• The User requests release and the request is verified
• Other circumstances require release

Claim release timing may depend on the relevant platform.

Content ID Disputes

If a YouTube user disputes a Content ID claim, the dispute may be processed according to YouTube's procedures.

NK Music Distribution may review:

• Ownership
• Rights documents
• Distribution authorization
• Content history
• Applicable licenses
• Other relevant evidence

The User must cooperate with reasonable verification requests.

Dispute Response

Where a legitimate dispute is received, the User may be required to provide:

• Ownership documentation
• License
• NOC
• Master Rights Agreement
• Distribution agreement
• Other relevant evidence

Failure to provide adequate evidence may result in the claim being released or the asset being restricted.

Copyright Strikes

Content ID claims and copyright strikes are separate mechanisms.

A copyright strike may result from a formal copyright enforcement process conducted by YouTube or another rights holder.

NK Music Distribution does not control YouTube's independent strike decisions.

Whitelisting

Where whitelist management is available, eligible official artist or label channels may be added to a whitelist.

Whitelist requests may require:

• Channel URL
• Channel ID
• Artist/label information
• Authorization
• Ownership verification

Whitelist Limitations

Whitelisting a channel does not:

• Transfer copyright
• Establish ownership
• Authorize third-party content
• Remove all rights-management obligations

A whitelist may be modified or removed where necessary.

Official Artist Channels

Users should only request whitelisting for channels that they own or are authorized to manage.

Submitting false channel information may result in suspension of whitelist services.

Monetization

Where monetization is enabled, eligible matched uses may generate revenue according to applicable platform policies.

Revenue may be affected by:

• Platform deductions
• Invalid traffic
• Disputes
• Claim releases
• Revenue adjustments
• Rights conflicts
• Platform policy changes

Content ID Revenue Reporting

Content ID revenue may be reported after the relevant platform provides its statement.

Reporting may be delayed.

Initial revenue figures may subsequently be adjusted.

Content ID Revenue Holds

Revenue may be held where there is:

• Ownership dispute
• Copyright complaint
• Fraud investigation
• Invalid activity
• Content ID conflict
• Platform investigation

Multiple Content ID Providers

A recording should not normally be registered with multiple conflicting Content ID administrators where such registration creates conflicting claims or violates platform requirements.

Users must disclose relevant existing rights-management arrangements where requested.

Conflicting Registrations

If the same recording is identified as being administered by multiple parties, NK Music Distribution may:

• Suspend the affected asset
• Release claims
• Request ownership documentation
• Temporarily hold revenue
• Remove the asset from Content ID

Rights Verification

We may conduct verification before or after Content ID registration.

Verification may include review of:

• Rights agreements
• NOCs
• Licenses
• Artist agreements
• Label agreements
• Distribution agreements
• Content history
• Existing registrations

Content ID Audits

Where reasonably necessary, we may review registered assets to confirm continued eligibility.

An asset may be removed or restricted if:

• Rights expire
• Ownership changes
• A dispute arises
• The content becomes ineligible
• Platform requirements change

Rights Expiration

If your rights or license expire, you must notify NK Music Distribution where the expiration affects our ability to administer the content.

We may remove or restrict the relevant Content ID asset.

Transfer of Rights

If ownership of a Content ID asset changes, the User must notify us where applicable.

The new rights holder may be required to provide appropriate documentation.

User-Requested Content ID Removal

Users may request removal of eligible content from Content ID.

Requests may require:

• Account verification
• Release identification
• Rights confirmation
• Relevant asset information

Removal timing may depend on the applicable platform.

Content Removal From Distribution

Removing a release from normal distribution does not necessarily mean that the Content ID asset is immediately removed.

Separate processing may be required.

Copyright Complaints

Copyright complaints involving Content ID assets will be handled according to our Copyright & Takedown Policy.

We may temporarily suspend affected assets while the matter is reviewed.

Fraud and Artificial Activity

Users must not use Content ID to:

• Generate fraudulent revenue
• Claim content they do not control
• Manipulate views
• Manipulate traffic
• Create artificial engagement
• Abuse claims

Such activity may result in immediate restriction or termination of Content ID services.

Platform Policy Changes

YouTube and other platforms may change Content ID requirements at any time.

NK Music Distribution may update eligibility criteria and procedures to comply with those requirements.

No Guarantee of Content ID Approval

Submission of a recording does not guarantee:

• Content ID approval
• Claim generation
• Monetization
• Revenue
• A specific number of matches
• A specific level of earnings

No Guarantee of Claim Accuracy

Automated identification systems may occasionally identify content incorrectly.

Users and affected third parties may have access to applicable dispute mechanisms provided by the platform.

Third-Party Platform Control

YouTube and other platforms independently control:

• Content ID
• Claims
• Disputes
• Monetization
• Platform policies
• Account actions
• Copyright enforcement

NK Music Distribution cannot guarantee the outcome of a third-party platform decision.

User Responsibility

The User is responsible for:

• Ownership
• Rights clearance
• Accuracy of information
• Valid documentation
• Compliance with applicable law
• Compliance with platform rules

Suspension of Content ID

We may suspend Content ID services where:

• Rights cannot be verified
• False claims are identified
• Ownership is disputed
• Fraud is suspected
• Platform policy is violated
• Required documents are not provided

Termination of Content ID

Content ID access may be terminated for repeated or serious violations, including:

• Fraudulent claims
• Unauthorized ownership claims
• Repeated copyright violations
• Artificial activity
• Misrepresentation
• Repeated failure to provide required documentation

Effect of Content ID Termination

Termination of Content ID does not automatically terminate:

• Copyright ownership
• Distribution rights
• Other contractual obligations
• Valid payment obligations

Separate services may be governed by their own terms.

Policy Updates

We may update this Content ID Policy from time to time.

The latest version will be published on this page with a revised Last Updated date.

Contact

For Content ID-related matters:

Acceptance

By requesting or using Content ID or related rights-management services through NK Music Distribution, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agreed to this Content ID Policy.