WHAT ARE THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS?

A third-party claim occurs when a video on your channel uses content—such as music, video footage, or sound recordings—that is owned or controlled by someone else. The content owner (or their representative) can issue a Content ID claim, a copyright takedown, or a manual claim.

These claims can affect your video’s monetization, restrict visibility, or even result in copyright strikes.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR CHANNEL RECEIVES A THIRD-PARTY CLAIM?

When your channel receives a third-party claim, it is your responsibility to resolve the issue promptly and transparently. Claims left unresolved or poorly handled can result in escalated action by YouTube — and by us as your network partner.

⚠ Important: Deleting a video with a claim does not resolve the issue. We track all claims received across our MCN — even for deleted or unlisted content — and review patterns of misuse or negligence.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU RECEIVE A THIRD-PARTY CLAIM

  1. Review the Claim Details
    Go to YouTube Studio → Content → Restrictions to identify the claimed content and the claiming party.

  2. Verify Ownership or Licensing

    • If you have a license or permission, collect documentation and prepare to present it.

    • If you do not have rights, replace or remove the claimed content using YouTube’s tools (e.g., mute or trim).

  3. Reach Out to the Claimant
    If licensed content was mistakenly claimed, contact the claimant to request a release. Keep us in CC when necessary.

  4. Dispute the Claim if Appropriate
    You can use YouTube’s dispute flow if the claim is incorrect, and you can prove rightful ownership or proper use (e.g., under fair use or a sync license).

OUR EXPECTATIONS

To maintain compliance and protect our network’s reputation, we have the following expectations for channels we manage:

  • Timely Response:
    All invalid or mistaken claims must be resolved within 5 working days from the date they are received.

  • Third-party authorization:
    Any channel receiving more than an occasional third-party claim must provide formal authorization from the third party for the use of their content, or risk the consequences outlined below.

ACTIONS WE MAY TAKE

If a channel repeatedly receives unauthorized third-party claims, fails to resolve them or attempts to obfuscate the use of third-party content, we will, depending on the circumstances:

  • Unlink the related channel from Revelator's MCN

  • Unlink all your channels from Revelator’s MCN 

  • Remove your ability to distribute to YouTube

  • Terminate your Revelator account

We appreciate your cooperation in preserving the quality of user experience on YouTube, protecting our network and your compliance with YouTube’s Content ID and copyright policies.