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I've noticed that for videos that feature music, a new trend has appeared where users post something like "I don't own the music".

What's the reason for this?
Does it really prevent YouTube from removing the video?
Does it have any legal merit at all?

Is it simply a viral thing where they see other people post it so they do it themselves?

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  • I can't see how it would help them preventing copyright violation, the only thing they do is not take credit for the music...
    – Ivo Flipse
    Commented Aug 16, 2010 at 12:05

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Note: I have no legal background, other than spending time reading up on some of the cases concerning copyrights and the DMCA.

It is most likely from a lack of education concerning copyright infringement and the viral nature of YouTube. It does nothing to prevent YouTube from removing the content if the true copyright holder can prove the infringement. Plus there's no legal basis for it as they are still technically committing copyright infringement.

As Ivo commented, the best they're doing is admitting they have no rights to the song.

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In order to commit a crime, you need to commit a guilt act (actus reus) and ALSO possess a guilty mind (mens rea). Any acknowledgment like this does not make your copyright infringement any less illegal, but in fact satisfies one of two criteria necessary for you committing criminal copyright infringement. The other is the act of posting a video of a song you don't own. I honestly don't know why anyone writes stuff like this—it confirms that you know what you're doing is wrong which makes you more prosecutable, not less.

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What's the reason for this?

  • To feel less guilty
  • Because people like to follow other's behaviour without thinking by themself
  • To use it as an excuse while monetizing it and saying "no I do not receive any money from it" (which is bs...)

Does it really prevent YouTube from removing the video?

  • Not at all

Does it have any legal merit at all?

  • Basically, NO
  • Unless you fall under fair use terms (which 99.999% of the time isn't the case, since they just copy/paste the contents)

Actually if it goes under fair use terms, you don't need this sentence anyway...

Note that YouTube consider it as its Myth number #1...

https://www.youtube.com/yt/copyright/fair-use.html#yt-copyright-myths

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I had a copyright strike and my video was blocked in some countries right after I uploaded it. I didn't knew what to do, I just added "I do not own the song..." and copyright strike was immediately removed. I don`t know how but it works in some cases.

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Because if I use a song owned by somebody else it will likely get removed. If I claim I do not own he rights I can't be held accountable for he content. Plus sometimes you can't upload a song in its original state because of copyright. Notice sometimes songs are sped up or slower than the original version is because they did not say they do not own he rights. So by me saying I do not own he rights I can upload it exactly as it should be.

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    Interesting. Could you link to an official source for this information?
    – Vidar S. Ramdal
    Commented Feb 28, 2013 at 9:04
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My guess is by adding the magic text "I do not own this song" will not block your content on copyright infringement basis and any ad revenue generated from it will go to the original owner.

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  • We prefer facts that can be backed up rather than guesses.
    – ale
    Commented Sep 6, 2013 at 3:05
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If you don't own it, you have no rights to use it

"I don't own this song" can be used against the youTuber in a court of law

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