“YouTube users must live with the knowledge that no video on YouTube is safe from being subject to an illegitimate copyright claim through the Content ID system. As it stands, YouTube presents an incredibly unfriendly environment for independent video producers seeking to establish a legitimate business based around online video.” - http://fairusetube.org/youtube-copyfraud
Various online news media are reporting about YouTube’s actions in relation to videos showing a singing President Obama.
A website has even been set up to discuss three fundamental flaws in relation to YouTube’s Content ID system:
1. The Content ID program apparently requires no proof of copyright ownership
2. Content ID identifications are notoriously inaccurate
3. The Content ID dispute process is ineffective and gives copyright claimants the ability to unilaterally “confirm” their claim with no further recourse for the uploader
But the general conclusion seems to be that:
The Content ID system continues to cause problems for individuals who have little recourse but to accept the takedowns, when they happen.
And more importantly, Google will hardly ever explain itself in relation to any action it takes or doesn’t take. Dedicated help and support sections will only explain why – perhaps – certain content ‘could have been removed’.
All of this is probably the disadvantage of having to use algorithms for important decisions such as content removal.
But there seems to be another big problem. Algorithms are also used for the YouTube Video Monetization process, which allows YouTube users to make money when Google decides to add advertisements to their videos.
It appears that Google’s decision making process regarding video monetization is equally flawed and as such, large groups of YouTube users take to the internet to display their frustration with Google’s monetization review procedure.
It even causes a flood of YouTube movies about the topic.
All in all it appears that there just simply are some critical activities during online Business To Consumer communication that require human intervention.
Sure, Google will have these humans ready when the problems are being escalated through legal threats, but until that threshold is reached, algorithms and bots are deciding whether internet users can view or monetize any videos. And the algorithms and bots are the first to decide whether a video can stay and whether or not advertisements will be added to them.
Whenever the computer code makes a mistake, which it is likely to go and repeat in similar situations, YouTube users will get frustrated not only because of the mistake, but predominantly because of the algorithm’s inability to take follow up steps and quickly resolve the matter, in a friendly and personal way.
It will probably take a long time before Google’s algorithms will be able to take care of that part of the process. Until then they’ll point the gun, spin the cylinder and you’ll just have to make sure to say a quick prayer.
Sources:
http://fairusetube.org/youtube-copyfraud
http://www.kitguru.net/channel/carl/youtube-restore-copyright-breaking-obama-music-videos/
Under Review Monetization Fix – 100% Legit Tutorial (2012)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj4KFOvpnVE
