Copyright & Content Licensing for YouTube Streamers
Avoid Copyright Strike strikes and Content ID claims. Learn what content you can legally use for 24/7 streaming and how to protect your YouTube channel.
Why Copyright Matters for Streamers
Copyright is one of the biggest risks for 24/7 streamers. Using copyrighted content — even unintentionally — can result in Content ID claims, copyright strikes, or even permanent channel termination. Understanding copyright law is essential to protect your channel and revenue.
Content Types & Their Copyright Risk
Original Content
Content you created entirely yourself — original music, artwork, videos, and animations.
- Your own compositions and recordings
- Self-created visual art and animations
- Original voiceovers and commentary
Royalty-Free Licensed
Content from royalty-free libraries where you've purchased or obtained a valid license.
- Music from Epidemic Sound, Artlist, or similar services
- Stock footage from licensed libraries
- Sound effects from royalty-free collections
Creative Commons
Content shared under Creative Commons licenses. Always check the specific license terms.
- CC0 (public domain) — safest option
- CC BY (attribution required) — must credit the creator
- CC BY-SA (share-alike) — must use same license
YouTube Audio Library
Free music and sound effects from YouTube's built-in library. Some tracks have restrictions.
- Attribution-free tracks (safest)
- Tracks requiring attribution in description
- Tracks with specific usage restrictions
Copyrighted Music
Popular songs, commercial recordings, and music from major labels. Almost always results in claims.
- Top 40 hits and chart music
- Movie and TV show soundtracks
- Cover songs (even your own performance)
Third-Party Video Content
Video clips, movies, TV shows, and content created by others without explicit permission.
- Movie clips and TV show excerpts
- Other creators' YouTube videos
- Sports broadcasts and news footage
Copyright-Safe Music Sources
Finding the right music for your 24/7 stream is critical. Here are the best copyright-safe music sources for streamers. One boundary that catches careful people sits outside this page: a Creator Music licence does not extend to live streams — see music licensing for live streams.
| Source | Cost | License Type | Quality | Variety |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube Audio Library | Free | YouTube-specific license | Good | Large |
| Epidemic Sound | $15/month | Full commercial license | Excellent | Very Large |
| Artlist | $10/month | Universal license | Excellent | Large |
| Free Music Archive | Free | Various CC licenses | Variable | Large |
| Incompetech | Free | CC BY (attribution) | Good | Medium |
💡 Pro Tip: Epidemic Sound and Artlist are the safest options for monetized streams. Their licenses specifically cover YouTube live streaming and protect against Content ID claims.
Understanding YouTube Copyright Actions
Content ID Claim
Risk: Low- Ad revenue goes to the copyright holder instead of you
- Audio may be muted in some countries
- No impact on channel standing
How to resolve: Remove the claimed content from your stream, or dispute the claim if you believe it's incorrect.
Copyright Strike
Risk: High- Your channel receives a strike (3 strikes = termination)
- Content is removed from YouTube
- You cannot monetize, go live, or upload for 1 week (first strike)
- Strike expires after 90 days if you complete Copyright School
How to resolve: Remove the infringing content. Complete YouTube's Copyright School. Wait 90 days for the strike to expire, or file a counter-notification if the strike is invalid.
Stream Termination
Risk: High- Your live stream is immediately stopped
- You may receive a copyright strike
- You may be temporarily blocked from live streaming
How to resolve: Remove all copyrighted content from your stream setup. Wait for any restrictions to be lifted before going live again.
Channel Termination
Risk: Critical- Your entire YouTube channel is permanently deleted
- All videos, subscribers, and watch hours are lost
- You cannot create a new channel on the same account
- This action is generally irreversible
How to resolve: This is the worst-case scenario. You can appeal through YouTube's channel termination appeal process, but success is not guaranteed. Prevention is the only reliable strategy.
Safe Streaming Checklist
Stream With Confidence
TheLoops helps you stream safely with copyright-compliant content. Our platform is designed for 24/7 streaming with peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, playing copyrighted music without a license will result in Content ID claims or copyright strikes. Use royalty-free music from services like Epidemic Sound, or use the YouTube Audio Library.
A Content ID claim means the copyright holder has been identified. Your video may have ads placed by the rights holder, or the audio may be muted. It's not a strike, but you won't earn revenue from that content.
It depends on the source. Original lofi music you create is always safe. Lofi from royalty-free libraries with proper licensing is also safe. However, lofi tracks from unknown sources may still be copyrighted.