A Guided Tour of Youtube Creative Commons License

Hi-de-ho, YouTube wizards, finding yourself bewitched by the labyrinth of license choices for your YouTube masterpiece, especially the two main ones – the “YouTube Standard License” as opposed to “Creative Commons”? Basically, these licenses guide what your viewers can or can’t with your creations, hence it’s kind of a big deal, you know.

Creative Commons
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

In this handy-dandy guide, we’ll walk you through the maze of these contracts, highlighting the primary contrasts between the YouTube Standard License and Creative Commons. Brace yourself, and let’s dive in, shall we, and unravel each license in all its glory. 👀

Standard YouTube License – What’s the Buzz About?

This Standard YouTube License is the readily available licensing alternative for videos uploaded to YouTube’s platform. Whenever you upload a video to YouTube, it is instantaneously embraced by the Standard YouTube License unless you intentionally pick a different license. This license grants YouTube users the liberty to watch and share your videos while ensuring you preserve the exclusive rights to your work.

If you are about to upload unique content, this Standard YouTube License could be the perfect fit for you. Though, if your goal is to allow your work to be used in a more cooperative manner or give others the freedom to remix and use your content, Creative Commons could be a viable option.

A Guided Tour of Creative Commons License

Creative Commons license is the counterpart to the Standard YouTube License inviting creators to share their work but still maintaining some form of control. It is more liberating as compared to its counterpart. Under this license, creators maintain the copyright to their work but they provide permission to others to use their work under certain specific conditions. As a creator, it’s like having your cake and eating it too, allowing a more flexible approach to creativity.

How to Decipher a YouTube Video’s License Type

Since you’re now familiar with the dichotomy between the “Standard YouTube License” and “Creative Commons,” it’s worth knowing how to decode the license type of a YouTube video. Here’s a rather simple step-by-step guide:

  1. Start off by hopping over to YouTube’s website.
  2. Select the video of your interest to play it,
  3. Scout the Description box beneath the video.
  4. In this box, you’ll find a section titled “Licenses.” You will either find “Standard YouTube License” or “Creative Commons Attribution license” mentioned there.

Creative Commons or YouTube’s Standard License, which is Better?

Choosing between the Creative Commons and the Standard YouTube License is largely subjective as both come with their own perks and limitations. Overall, if you wish to have exclusivity over your video content and maintain strict usage control, the Standard YouTube License is your go-to choice. On the other hand, if you wish to allow other creators to freely share and sometimes modify your content (with due credit), the Creative Commons license is the ideal route.

Don’t forget to check Creative Common videos on YouTube.

Spoiler alert: The glitz and glamour of YouTube creators isn’t without a dark side. Regrettably, the dangers of losing your YouTube account persists! To safeguard yourself from this horrific fate, establish your own website to maintain the audience you’ve grown through your YouTube journey.

Creative Commons
Photo by greenwish _ on Pexels.com

A Quick Rundown: Bidding Standard YouTube License vs Creative Commons

The critical divergence between the Standard YouTube License and Creative Commons is your level of control over the content. To provide an eagle-eye view:

The Standard YouTube License – This is the pre-set license for videos uploaded to YouTube. Here, creators retain copyright.

Creative Commons – Here, creators can dictate their content usage, allowing others to use and remix the work as long as attribution is given.

How to Cherry-Pick the Right License for Your YouTube Videos?

Choosing the appropriate license for your YouTube content majorly depends upon your ultimate goals and the kind of content you conjure:

  • For maintaining dominance over your content usage, the Standard YouTube License is ideal.
  • If you feel generous and wish to share your creativity and grant more freedom to other creators over your content, Creative Commons can be the more suitable option.

When settling for a license for your videos, ensure you thoroughly go through the terms and comprehend your rights and responsibilities. If you’re using copyrighted material, it is an absolute must to acquire the necessary permissions or licenses to dodge any law-related hiccups.

Bear in mind that while the Creative Commons license can be more flexible in term of your content’s usage, it also means you give up a level of control. You’re not only the creator but the influencer. Why not consider Influencer Marketing?

Creative Commons
Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

Choosing the appropriate license for your YouTube content isn’t just another checkbox to tick. Instead, it is a critical part of nurturing and sharing videos on YouTube. A thoughtfully chosen license can protect your content, turn your goals into reality, and invite others to join in your creative journey, and these should be taken into account when uploading your next YouTube masterpiece!

As a Content Creator – What Should I Legally Consider?

Without a doubt, there are many laws and guidelines that govern your business as a content creator. Making sense of it all can feel like navigating through a legal jungle. Here are the crucial points to bear in mind:

  • Be honest and transparent, always. If you’re either sponsoring a product or using influencer marketing, you need to state that very clearly, prominently.
  • Make sure disclosures are not easy to miss.
  • Also, ensure you check in on any other relevant laws that apply.

It’s a wrap here, folks! Tread carefully in your YouTube journey! Keep pushing out your creativity into the world, and good luck on your path! And hey, remember, there are always cats on YouTube if you get frustrated!

Leave a Comment