A new channel appears on YouTube that uses erotic thumbnails to avoid deletion due to copyright infringement



YouTube has a system to detect copyrighted content, and channels that have been warned multiple times for uploading pirated content will be deleted. However, since this means that they cannot get the revenue generated by playing pirated content, it has been reported that some channels have appeared that aim to secure revenue by making thumbnails and headers pornographic images and 'getting YouTube to suspend their accounts in a way that is not copyright infringement.'

Porn Uploads: A Shield for Copyright Infringement Penalties on YouTube? * TorrentFreak

https://torrentfreak.com/porn-uploads-a-shield-for-copyright-infringement-penalties-on-youtube-241117/



YouTube has introduced a system called ' Content ID ' that automatically identifies copyrighted content based on a database of audio and video files sent by copyright holders. Because the process is basically mechanical, there have been reported cases in the past where the 'washing machine chime sound' played during a YouTube broadcast was deemed to be copyright infringement and monetization was suspended .

YouTube's 'washing machine chime sound' was deemed a copyright infringement and monetization was suspended - GIGAZINE



According to a video that YouTube released in the past explaining the violation warning system, 98% of users follow YouTube's community guidelines and copyright management regulations , and even in cases where the rules are broken intentionally, there are very few cases. For this reason, YouTube has introduced a mechanism called the ' 3 strikes system .' For example, if a video that violates the guidelines is deleted, a one-time 'warning' is displayed and video uploads and live broadcasts are restricted for one week, but no channel suspension or other processing occurs. If you receive a second warning within 90 days of the first warning, you will not be able to upload new videos for two weeks, and if you receive a third warning within 90 days of the second warning, your account will be automatically permanently deleted. The guidelines also state that if you commit a malicious misconduct even once, your channel may be suspended without prior warning.

There have been reports of cases where explicit pornographic images have been used to circumvent YouTube's copyright infringement prevention system. Below is the channel page of a YouTube channel called 'MrTech,' reported by TorrentFreak, a media outlet that covers the topic of copyright infringement. It has more than 160,000 subscribers, and popular videos have been viewed millions of times.



However, according to TorrentFreak, MrTech suddenly changed the channel's header and video thumbnails to hardcore pornographic images in early November. As you can see from the image below, the video titles remain the same and the video content has not changed, but the thumbnails and headers have become pornographic images.



YouTube strictly prohibits sexual content, so MrTech's video, whose thumbnail was changed to a pornographic image, was deleted along with the channel. Similarly, there have been many reports of channels being deleted after suddenly changing their image to a pornographic image. According to TorrentFreak, these are not problems such as the channel being hijacked, but are thought to be intentional by the channel owner. If a channel receives multiple copyright strikes in succession, it will automatically be permanently deleted, so by uploading explicit pornographic content, they are inviting their own deletion before it is deleted due to copyright infringement.

Whether the reason is copyright infringement or pornographic content, the channel itself will be deleted. However, there may be a difference in the Google AdSense account linked to the YouTube channel to earn revenue. If the channel is deleted due to copyright infringement, the linked Google AdSense account will also be permanently suspended, making it difficult to launch a new channel to earn revenue or continue using Google AdSense with other services. However, if the channel is deleted due to pornographic content, it is less likely that a penalty will be incurred on Google AdSense. '

Regarding the reason why there is a difference in the penalties for copyright infringement and pornographic content, TorrentFreak explains, 'In the case of copyright infringement, Google AdSense is automatically suspended because the problem is 'profiting from illegal activities'. On the other hand, channels are suspended for pornographic content because the focus is on the content itself rather than profits, so Google AdSense penalties are unlikely to occur.'

When TorrentFreak contacted YouTube, they only responded with a general statement that 'MrTech was suspended for its policies regarding nudity and sexual content' and that 'we have other programs to deal with copyright infringement,' but did not address the loopholes in YouTube's guidelines.

in Web Service, Posted by log1e_dh