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YouTube's copyright system isn't broken. The world's is.

Tom Scott · 9M views · 2020-03-23 · 42:29

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Overview

Tom Scott's long explainer on YouTube's copyright system, Content ID and the DMCA. He argues the platform's system is a workaround for a broader copyright system that does not fit the modern world.

On Hacker News

The default link in copyright and takedown threads, recommended as an excellent, comprehensive explanation of why automated enforcement and the law work as they do.

Recommended by 13 HN people across 10 months · HN mentions 2020–2024

Topics

Law, policing & justiceInternet culture & memesTech industry & business models
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What people said

Laremere · 2021-06 · Strong recommendation

I recommend the excellent video by Youtuber Tom Scott "YouTube's Copyright System Isn't Broken. The World's Is." [VIDEO] While I agree with the OP in broad strokes (they clearly have the right to post and profit off their performance), I find that the vast majority of comments on Youtube's copyright claim system fail to even acknowledge major aspects of the problem. Perhaps Youtube's practical monopoly does it a disservice here, and it's hard to separate "big self publishing video platform" problems with Youtube specific problems. Without a system like YT currently has, it would get absolutely sued into oblivion by rightful copyright complaints. This is in many ways is a problem of copyright law not being designed with modern technology in mind. I think a good first step would be a way for copyright owners to be punished for broadly overreaching with their claims.

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0xTJ · 2021-05 · Strong recommendation

A really great video (if you're willing to spend the better part of an hour watching it) about this is YouTube's Copyright System Isn't Broken. The World's Is.[1] by Tom Scott. [1] [VIDEO]

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jimbob45 · 2020-11 · Strong recommendation

[VIDEO] Tom Scott explains the situation and the solution best. Just shorten copyright to 20 years (instead of life + 70 years). .......that said, we did just strong-arm the world into matching US copyright law and I’m not sure we could do that now even if we wanted to.

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Sources

Video by Tom Scott, played through YouTube.

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