YouTube Copyright School – Lessons for pirates

YouTube is sending copyright infringers to school, copyright school that is. The video sharing site has set up an online “school” to educate frequent copyright infringers about the dangers of posting material they do not own.

And in true YouTube style the site has also published a web 2.0 after schools special-style informational video about copyright infringement (featuring pirate bunnies!).

If you aren’t sure what copyright exactly is YouTube gives a handy explanation.

Copyright infringement occurs when a copyrighted work is reproduced, distributed, performed, publicly displayed, or made into a derivative work without the permission of the copyright owner.

YouTube respects the rights of copyright holders and publishers and requires all users to confirm they own the copyright or have permission from the copyright holder to upload content. We comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and other applicable copyright laws and promptly remove content when properly notified.

Posting copyright-infringing content can lead to the removal of your videos and possibly monetary damages if a copyright owner decides to take legal action (this is serious—you can get sued!). Repeat infringers’ accounts are terminated. These users are permanently prohibited from using YouTube.

For those of you who have not breached corporate copyright recently you can still take YouTube’s copyright exam. Questions included in the exam are,

The following is a good subject for your YouTube videos:
a) A concert
b) A Broadway play, show or musical
c) Your own screenplay or script
d) The screen at the movie theater

(We think the answer is c)

and

Copyright infringement is a serious offense and violation of the law may have significant consequences.
a) True
b) False

We’re thinking “true”.