Youtube ‘scans’ every video uploaded and checks them against YouTube’s music data base, Content ID. Content ID contains almost every copyrighted song in the world, ensuring that artists, labels, and songwriters are protected. If Content ID detects unauthorized copyrighted music in one of a creator’s long-form videos, the creator will receive a copyright claim.

There are only three ways to resolve a copyright strike:

• Wait for it to expire: Copyright strikes expire after 90 days. If it's your first strike, you'll need to complete.
• Get a retraction: You can get in touch with the person who claimed your video and ask them to retract their claim of copyright infringement.
• Submit a counter notification: If you think your video was removed by mistake, or qualifies as fair use, you can submit a counter notification.

Because of Content ID, thousands of creators have to take down their video because of a small ounce of music used, causing their revenue to plunge. Content ID automatically strikes these videos and without a well-composed response to YouTube, their video gets taken down.There is little to no leniency for YouTube creators to abide by YouTube’s policies for music, causing their video to get striked down. If a creator gets striked three times within 90 days, their channel gets terminated.

There is a special relationship between YouTube creators and music artists that use each form of content to promote their art and these policies are prohibiting these relationships to flourish. Sign this petition to ease YouTube’s copyright and fair use policies on music use.