@Salterius This is something I raised as a general question and asked about in the OpenDev Forums (if amplitude held the full music rights or not). Never got any reply, so I thought better safe than sorry and to have no game music playing. Sometimes, or often, game companies only pay for the license to use an artist music in their game and distribute it with the game insatllation for private home use. That license often does not include a 3rd party (the customers) to broadcast or share it publically any further (like use in a youtube video or stream). Some game companies make their music in house, so they hold all the rights and can control and allow the streamers and YouTubers to play the music as they play the game and the game company control any claims being made. If not then it's the artist publisher and whoever they hire to guard their copyrighted material who will issue the strikes or claims. It's why so many Let's Plays have started silencing game music anmd become alot duller as a result.

Just wait until the drafted former article 11 (now renamed article 15) and drafted article 13 (now renamed article 17) comes into full effect in EU, then it will even get worse with link taxes and all kinds off things. Possibly forcing YouTube and Twitch to by deafult block  alot of content from being viewed in EU. EU might become like China in that regard and be behind a virtual wall. No. VPN might not even solve it either, as if You are registered as content creator within EU (and you must be if get your pay into an account within eu) they will still know where you are from and follow the EU laws and articles. So it will both be harder for people in EU to watch alot of content but even worse for content creators trying to upload anything from EU and live within EU to get paid. On top of that ISP's within EU can be "forced" to block VPN services. Simply block the IP adress ranges known to be used by VPN services. It can all end up in a nightmare for free content sharing.

Expect some very harsh filters (as no platform company can monitor all uploaded material manually) that exclude anything suspected to be copyrighted material, or even worse, YouTube could end up cutting EU off from the platform, as it would cost them so much if they still allow their videos to be shown within EU. YouTube would be liable, as a platform publisher, to pay all copyright breaches, or pay the all potential copyright holders before hand for licenses to use their material, which would be impossible with millions of users posting various stuff.

I quote: "YouTube boss Susan Wojcicki had also warned that users in the EU could be cut off from the video platform." The same would affect other platforms like Twitch etc.

The Articles have already been passed and is basically now just in a process of sent to the member countries that must adapt their laws to comply and then it goes back to EU and comes into full effect 7th June 2021. Meaning the countries now have a time period to adapt their laws accordingly, but then it's probably "game over man" as a YouTube content creator or Twitch Streamer if You live within EU anyway and other content creators might lsoe their EU audience.

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directive_on_Copyright_in_the_Digital_Single_Market


Happily for people at least living in The UK, UK has said they will not implement these new copyright laws. I guess Brexit was a good thing. Now if I only live there at least. The irony is that UK was one of the 19 member states (they were still a full member to vote) that voted to pass this law into effect, but now they don't have to face it's consequences. The rest of us within EU do. Even in countries like where I live who acctually objected to this law.

They have only tweaked minor things in the articles to make it possible to post small comments and jokes using copyrighted material, like MEMEs, but not long long videos and such.

Link: UK Will Not Implement EU Copyright Law

The German Member Of The EU Parliament, named Axel Voss, who lobbied so hard to push this through, didn't even know what was in the articles when asked.

Link: The man behind the EU’s copyright law is “surprised” by what’s in the proposal

Real brilliant, riiite. *rolleyes* 

I guess he was just paid by big traditional media corporations (newspapers, tv, movie industry, music industry etc) to push their agenda through. Now the rest of us will suffer. 

I hope this post is fine as all this is directly related to copyright issues streaming or making videos of games and music within games too, this being a game forum after all. As we also see OP having been copy claimed and I only explain how that can be, but also how it will most likely get worse and worse for those content creators within EU. This game after all is by a French Studio within EU. I am one of those that will suffer as well as I too am from within an EU membership country. 

The-Cat-o-Nine-Tales wrote:

Lord_Funk wrote:
This is something I raised as a general question and asked about in the OpenDev Forums (if amplitude held the full music rights or not). Never got any reply, so I thought better safe than sorry and to have no game music playing.

Sorry we never got back to you on that question. As far as I know, all our music is licensed for streaming and youtube as well. More importantly, the company claiming Salterius videos are not Arnaud Roy's label G4F, so this is clearly a case of the algorithm getting a bit eager with its flagging (perhaps because our soundtrack is not officially out yet and thus not present in their data.)

@The-Cat-o-Nine-Tales Thank You for Your Reply !!! That is awesome news. :)

There have popped up some really shady companies around the whole copyright issue, as well (no idea if that is one of them). Some that simply live off of copyright claiming videos, as they know that most YouTubers are private individuals that have no knowledge or finacial means to dispute a copyright claim or strike (and it can be a costly affair with lawyers and drag out and ruin a person financially before they even know if they would win ot not). Not to mention if You dispute a copyright claim, You are under the threat of getting a strike. 3 Strikes and You can lose Your whole channel. So such shady companies claim all they can and then just sit back and earn all the ad revenues off of peoples videos.

This is the game that has finally made me get my thumbs out and start record videos. That means I can use the ones I recorded with music rather than the ones without. Unfortunertlay I recorde most gameplay without, as I had not gotten a reply then, but I think I have some that was with music on. In the futire it is also good to know that then music can be used and if get a copyright claim or strike then one can dispute it and knowing that will not end up in a lenghty trial and loss and financial ruin. :)

Oh btw, when You say it's license for streaming and and YouTube, does that only include non profit, or even monetized videos ??? As that is a difference too, as far as I know. Like for example Fair Use for education, review, satire, humor etc, as well as some sites free use of images and such is only for non-profitable use. If You try try to monetize the video and thus make money out of it, then suddenly using fair use and such as an excuse does not fly, as You are making money out of someone elses work. For example YouTubes own free share of music library (that you can use in your videos) has special conditions attached to it. For example that You can not share it in other places.

Some free to use music and/or images on web-sites also have certain conditions. For example that You must link to where You found the music or image, mention/give credit to the artist, as well as only use them for non profit projects. If You want to use some of it in a video You monetize, You must pay for the license to that site You got the image or music from. Also You can not share their material on competing web-sites, like for example some other site that also shares music and image libraries. That is at least how most image and music sharing sites have it set up.

So it must be licensed not just as free to use for non-profit projects, but totally free to use, even for monetization. You could for example include a free to use license (with all that detailed/specified) in Your digital distribution, that then YouTubers could use and attach when disputing a copyright claim or strike. Note that I am not some copyright expert lawyer, but I do like to read up on things. Since making videos have been on my mind for many years, I have dug up alot in the process in case I would one day start. I can tell You that copyright laws is a jungle. The upcoming article 15 and 17 in EU (coming into full legal effect june 7th 2021) will make it even more of a mess and jungle. Since YouTube and Twitch operate globally as platforms, they need to comply or block the countries or regions from accessing their platform that they can not conform legally to.

In fact, as a side note, it started with my son wanting to make YouTube videos and I thought "hey that's cool" and wanted to participate in the way that I would fix the equipment for him and dig up all the technical knowledge (obs, sound filters, effects, video editing etc), as well as rules and things You need to know around it all. Also the risks it involves with getting doxxed, make sure to protect Your IP adress with vpn and such from weird people out there. Kind of like a parent having a kid playing football or ice hockey and wanting to show interest and support Your kid in what they want to do. Since I was the one who got him into gaming after all (as I've been gaming since like forever), I only thought that fair, to also get involved in the rest with YouTube videos and such. I get him a new computer when he needed, or upgrade when it gets older and needs upgrades. We go to Sci-Fi, Fantasy films and gaming conventions together and things like that.

The-Cat-o-Nine-Tales wrote:

Lord_Funk wrote:
Oh btw, when You say it's license for streaming and and YouTube, does that only include non profit, or even monetized videos ???

It should be fine on Monetized videos as well. I've never heard of any problems monetizing videos for our previous games, and all of those used Arnaud's music published by G4F. However, I don't know the specifics of the contract, so I'd rather talk to the people who are more directly involved before giving a definite answer.

Perhaps for release (or any pre-release opportunities that may allow streaming and videos) I should put together a little guide on issues like that.

@The-Cat-o-Nine-Tales Again Thank You for Your reply !!! Very kind. Just remember that YouTube do not accept the YouTuber just sending a  link to some web-site post saying it's ok to use the music or such when trying to dispute a copyright claim or strike. One must submit some kind of document (can be digital of course, like a pdf or something) showing that the music, or image etc used in the video has been specifically approved by the license holder to be used by the creator on YouTuber (or any other platform).

So including such a document with the digital release installation of Humankind maybe, like many games include "ReadMe.txt" and such with installations. The same could be done with a license for the music being approved to be used even in monetized videos and streaming. Just an idea. :)

@The-Cat-o-Nine-Tales In addition to my post above I thought to make it easier for You to include examples of various sites Terms Of Use of music or images etc.

First example is YouTubes own sound library

I quote:

"Your use of this music library (including the music files) is subject to the YouTube Terms of Use. Music in this library is for your use only in videos and other content you create. You can use music files from this library in the videos you use to generate revenue on YouTube.

When you download music from the library, you agree to the following:

• You may not make available, distribute or perform music files from this library outside of the videos or other content in which you use the music files (independent distribution of these files is not permitted).

• You may not use music files from this library illegally or with illegal content.

You agree to abide by the requirements when using the music in this library.

Read more about YouTube's Audio Library.

Warning Note: Only songs from the official YouTube Audio Library are known to YouTube to be copyright-safe. YouTube is not responsible for issues that arise from “royalty-free” music from YouTube channels or other music libraries. YouTube can’t give legal guidance, including regarding issues with music that can occur off the platform. If you have questions about your use of music, you may wish to consult a qualified lawyer."
----
So in essence if You use music from that YouTube library in a video You then post on Vimeo or some other platform is not permitted. Or to share their music on other so called "royalty-free" music sites. You can only use it in videos that You post on the YouTube platform. Then it is even ok to monetize the videos. YouyTube will not get invoved in any dispute between a YouTube content creator and any other 3rd part "royalty-free" site. It all falls on the YouTuber to dispute it and then take it to court if needed and all the legal fees and such. While in dispute the revenues from any such video is frozen in with YouTube until the parties have settled their disagreement/disagreement and YouTube knows who to pay out to.

Usually it's such a hassle and financial risk for any smaller YouTuber that they don't dare to dispute or fight the claim. The easier way out is sadly to simply mute all music in videos and not even risk it.

---

Then we have another example from a site https://www.myfreetextures.com/ that shares image files, photos and even backgrounds that can be used and such.

I quote:

"Simple License – Read This!

The images of My Free Textures are copyrighted and distributed as royalty free with the only exception being the right to use photos from this website to create a similar or competing service, like a stock photography platform.

What this means is you can use the images for your projects (both commercial -unless a competing platform as stated above- and non-commercial) but you have to give credit and attribution to this site.

Please link back to either the homepage or to the page in which the image is rather than the actual image file.

MyFreeTextures License"
---

So with that sites images it is ok to use them even in commercial monetized projects, as long as it's not on a competing image type hosting service.

---

Those are just 2 examples of course. There are so many different ones out there and even sites that claim they share royalty-free music often comes with conditions like having to be a paid subscriber to their service and such to use their music in monetized videos. Many people think it is just free to use and then end up with copyright claims. Some YouTubers maybe found the song via some other link and didn't even know where it originally came from and have never even read their Terms Of Service.

Also as I described before, some game companies not having the rights to acctually share the music used in the game other than distributing it with the game for private use by the customers. People who streamed and posted videos of early access of the game "OldWorld" for example ran into copyright issues if they did not mute the music in that game. Soren Johnson himself from Mohawk games even came into some stream chats and told the streamers that they better mute the music to not run inot any issues. So it's important to understand when YouTubers use it they are 3rd party broadcasters (just because a game company have the license to have the music in their game does not automatically mean the youtuber have the rights to share that music too in a video) and will end up with copyright claims and such (unless they really do have the rights to share the music), but as You said that should not be an issue with Your games. Which is good. :)

Sorry for the long posts, but copyright is a complicated topic and as I said a jungle. I'm sure there is alot I don't understand with it as well. It basically takes a lawyer with a degree specializing in copyright laws to understand it all. I am not that.

Hi Everybody,

As @The-Cat-o-Nine-Tales mentioned above, this is indeed a case of a somewhat overzealous algorithm that is flagging stuff it shouldn't. We've not had much success getting in contact with the company claiming Salterius videos though, so until we manage to get this matter resolved, I'm afraid to say that there is a chance that other videos featuring music from Humankind might get flagged as well.

To that end, Arnaud Roy's label, G4F, have created a page explaining their music policy, which includes a full permission to use their music in your videos, which includes monetized videos. You can use this page to contest a wrongful copyright claim, which we recommend you do should this happen to you: www.g4f-records.com/en/content-creators/

LeSelmer wrote:

Hi Everybody,

As @The-Cat-o-Nine-Tales mentioned above, this is indeed a case of a somewhat overzealous algorithm that is flagging stuff it shouldn't. We've not had much success getting in contact with the company claiming Salterius videos though, so until we manage to get this matter resolved, I'm afraid to say that there is a chance that other videos featuring music from Humankind might get flagged as well.

To that end, Arnaud Roy's label, G4F, have created a page explaining their music policy, which includes a full permission to use their music in your videos, which includes monetized videos. You can use this page to contest a wrongful copyright claim, which we recommend you do should this happen to you: www.g4f-records.com/en/content-creators/

@LeSelmer That is indeed very good of Arnaud Roy's label G4F and You !!! *thumbs up*

That is indeed very helpful for those that want to dispute a claim.

However I have now learned that from what it seems fighting or disputing a copyright strike or claim on YouTube involves having to fill in all personal details like full name, phone number, home address etc. All that will be shared with the one making/issuing the copyright strike/claim in case they want to take it to court (that is the reason for sharing your personal info, or so youtube say). Doesn't matter if that is an individual or an acctual company. In fact a registered company could be just one individual too from anywhere in the world where it's easy to register a company for whatever purpose.

So I personally will probably chose to mute any music in Humankind when and if I make videos in the futurem, rather than have to give all my personal info out to the one doing the copyright strike/claim. For all I know the on making the copyright strike or claim could simply be doing that to get my (or anyones they strike/claim) personal information and use that for whatever.

YouTube's copyright strike/claim system is really not a good one. It's all focused on not getting YouTube involved. YouTube don't care much for peoples privacy in that regard, just as long as they don't have to get involved. 

That system is so flawed and that is why it's so heavily abused by peoples simply seeking revenge on a YouTuber or shady companies, as most YouTubers will not even dare to dispute a strike, even less a claim, as it's not worth the risk. Some really shady companies have popped up around it who will claim alot of videos and basically just have their whole business live off of other peoples videos revenues.

Like Jukin Media for example that have more or less threated alot of YouTubers to pay or they will issuse strikes and take down their channels. Even though what the YouTubers have used is well within the realms of fair use. Still most YouTubers can't dare to face a legal battle as that can cost a fortune and either just pay up or have to face the strikes and risk losing their channel. With claims it's often just less risk letting whoever claimed it get the revenues (which is really unfair and bad). Like "Jukin Media" did to "MxR Plays" among many other YouTubers. Putting extortion into a system using copyright claims and then strikes as a threat.

Even though "MxR Plays" paid up the first time, Jukin Media just kept claiming more videos and kept kind of "extorting" MxR Plays and threatning with copyright strikes and klling their channel (as youtube will delete a channel after 3 strikes), if MxR did not pay more to Jukin Media.

YouTube Link: YongYea - Jukin Media Extorts YouTuber MxR By Abusing YouTube's Awful Copyright System



YouTube Link: MxR Plays - We're being taken advantage of and we don't know what to do anymore



This is a big issue for YouTubers. It's mentally very stressful, can shut down Your channel (kill the livelyhood for those living off of youtuibe videos), as well as ruin You financially if dare to dispute the claims/strikes and take it to court. Even the first phase of having to give out all Your personal info to the one claiming Your videos is stressful enough in my opinion. As You never know what that person or company will do with all of your personal details.

So no copyright claim or strike is a fault at Your end Amplitude, or at G4F end. The fault of that is purely on YouTubes side, their broken copyright system being abused and nothing we can do anything about it unfortunetly.

I did a search and found a random new videos talking about some YouTuber having this issue. He obviously first got a strike, then when trying to contact and dispute it he is instead now being "extorted" by the one making the strike. Other than that I don't know much about that YouTuber, but as this was the topic here I still felt it relevant as these videos disuss this specific issue with strikes and such on YouTube. It seems anyone can issue a claim or strike on any channel, even if it's just for revenge or that they simply do not like the content of that video. Then the YouTuber is left at the mercy of the one issuing the strike as they get all their personal info if they dispute the strike.

Here is the video discussing the YouTuber who got the strike. 

YouTube Link: ACE1918 - TheQuartering Gets A False CopyRight Strike!



He also mentions that he himself have a strike on his channel even if the video that he originally got a strike on is back up with no restrictions, but the strike on the channel still remains. Meaning if he gets more strikes his channel can get deleted by YouTube. As I said the system is so bad and broken that in my opinion anything one can do to not even risk a false copyright claim or strike is worth doing. Even if it means muting the music totally. *sad face*

Here is another video by the YouTuber himself getting the strike and says he is now extorted if he wants the strike revoked by the one making the strike.

YouTube Link: TheQuartering - I Am Being Extorted & Need Help



Those last two were the newest relevant videos I could find when doing a search on YouTube on this issue.

I've seen quite a few videos of YouTubers having these things happening to them over the years. Yes, even big channels, although bigger channels might have the resources and connections to fight such a strike or claim, while smaller YouTubers do not. I remember Ethan from "h3h3Productions" and his wife having to go to court and risk losing their home due to legal costs. They basically had to get alot of help by people via Patreon or something for legal fees. Eventually they won, but it cost them alot both financially and mentally.

Also the case of MxR Plays vs Jukin Media as I mentioned further up. Many others as well. Privacy, online security, as well as this is a topic around copyright all interests me so I get alot of video recommendations when videos on issues like these pops up. I've been following these topics for quite some time.

As You can see this is an ongoing issue and YouTube seems to do nothing to acctually adress their broken and abused system, or to protect their YouTubers/content creators. 

Lord_Funk wrote:
However I have now learned that from what it seems fighting or disputing a copyright strike or claim on YouTube involves having to fill in all personal details like full name, phone number, home address etc. All that will be shared with the one making/issuing the copyright strike/claim in case they want to take it to court (that is the reason for sharing your personal info, or so youtube say). Doesn't matter if that is an individual or an acctual company. In fact a registered company could be just one individual too from anywhere in the world where it's easy to register a company for whatever purpose.

So I personally will probably chose to mute any music in Humankind when and if I make videos in the futurem, rather than have to give all my personal info out to the one doing the copyright strike/claim. For all I know the on making the copyright strike or claim could simply be doing that to get my (or anyones they strike/claim) personal information and use that for whatever.

YouTube's copyright strike/claim system is really not a good one. It's all focused on not getting YouTube involved. YouTube don't care much for peoples privacy in that regard, just as long as they don't have to get involved. 

It is far from ideal, I know. :-(

The G4F content creator page is a measure of assistance should people wish to dispute a claim (and I fully get if people do not wish to do so), but we will still continue to reach out to whatever companies are making these wrongful claims to try and get them resolved without having the content creators go through the pain of having to contest claims. In fact, should anyone else receive a wrongful copyright claim in the future, we would appreciate if you would let us know about it here so we can investigate.

Lord_Funk wrote:
This is a big issue for YouTubers. It's mentally very stressful, can shut down Your channel (kill the livelyhood for those living off of youtuibe videos), as well as ruin You financially if dare to dispute the claims/strikes and take it to court.

Lord_Funk wrote:
I've seen quite a few videos of YouTubers having these things happening to them over the years. Yes, even big channels, although bigger channels might have the resources and connections to fight such a strike or claim, while smaller YouTubers do not.

Just wanted to add that I am well aware of this, and I know that it is extremely frustrating. I know quite a few YouTubers, both big and small, and I have become quite good friends with a good handful of people who have made content creation their livelyhood. They work super hard and put so much time and care into what they do, and I know how devastating a wrongful copyright claim can be, in many cases, a video that has taken days to create will effectively be lost time and revenue. 

Furthermore, it can also be frustrating for the actual copyright holder when someone else claims your copyright as theirs. In many cases it is not malicious and "merely" a matter of an algorithm gone bad, but that doesn't help much if the communication channels with the claimant are difficult.

LeSelmer wrote:

Lord_Funk wrote:
However I have now learned that from what it seems fighting or disputing a copyright strike or claim on YouTube involves having to fill in all personal details like full name, phone number, home address etc. All that will be shared with the one making/issuing the copyright strike/claim in case they want to take it to court (that is the reason for sharing your personal info, or so youtube say). Doesn't matter if that is an individual or an acctual company. In fact a registered company could be just one individual too from anywhere in the world where it's easy to register a company for whatever purpose.

So I personally will probably chose to mute any music in Humankind when and if I make videos in the futurem, rather than have to give all my personal info out to the one doing the copyright strike/claim. For all I know the on making the copyright strike or claim could simply be doing that to get my (or anyones they strike/claim) personal information and use that for whatever.

YouTube's copyright strike/claim system is really not a good one. It's all focused on not getting YouTube involved. YouTube don't care much for peoples privacy in that regard, just as long as they don't have to get involved. 

It is far from ideal, I know. :-(

The G4F content creator page is a measure of assistance should people wish to dispute a claim (and I fully get if people do not wish to do so), but we will still continue to reach out to whatever companies are making these wrongful claims to try and get them resolved without having the content creators go through the pain of having to contest claims. In fact, should anyone else receive a wrongful copyright claim in the future, we would appreciate if you would let us know about it here so we can investigate.

LeSelmer wrote:

Lord_Funk wrote:
This is a big issue for YouTubers. It's mentally very stressful, can shut down Your channel (kill the livelyhood for those living off of youtuibe videos), as well as ruin You financially if dare to dispute the claims/strikes and take it to court.

Lord_Funk wrote:
I've seen quite a few videos of YouTubers having these things happening to them over the years. Yes, even big channels, although bigger channels might have the resources and connections to fight such a strike or claim, while smaller YouTubers do not.

Just wanted to add that I am well aware of this, and I know that it is extremely frustrating. I know quite a few YouTubers, both big and small, and I have become quite good friends with a good handful of people who have made content creation their livelyhood. They work super hard and put so much time and care into what they do, and I know how devastating a wrongful copyright claim can be, in many cases, a video that has taken days to create will effectively be lost time and revenue. 

Furthermore, it can also be frustrating for the actual copyright holder when someone else claims your copyright as theirs. In many cases it is not malicious and "merely" a matter of an algorithm gone bad, but that doesn't help much if the communication channels with the claimant are difficult.

@LeSelmer I have to say that those are some really impressive replies. I am so happy to hear that devs at Amplitude are well aware of such issues and up to date. So many times I have seen total lack of knowledge from game company representatives replies when people having these issues have raised it in their official forums. Basically leaving the creators to their own fate. I know that, just as for the creators, You are limited in what You can do as well. YouTube don't care and if the ones claiming the copyright can't be contacted, as You explain, then we are at the mercy of- and stuck between YouTube, their bad broken system (which they seem to have no interest in fixing as all they care about is their own skin and not getting involved) and a claimant we can not get in touch with. The only solution left is to not include music after all attempts to rectify the situation has failed, short of going to court. Such a shame really that YouTube and copyright laws have come to this and being so abused.

It seems YouTube are more happy to promote and focus on giving favouritism in recommendation algorithms towards the bigger main-stream corpoarte media channels now invading YouTube, rather than protect the creators that helped building their platform and making it so big and successful. It's not "You"Tube anymore but more and more "Their"Tube it feels like.

Still really nice to see You at Amplitude being so up-to-date and knowledgeable in this. I have rarely, if ever, seen such on the point replies in a game forum about this topic from representatives of the forums game company. I tip my beanie to You. Thank You !!! *thumbs up* :)

Update on the story, thanks to @LeSelmer I filed a dispute while providing a link to G4F page stating that the claim was done wrongfully, and I just got this as a result. 

There was no conspiracy involved, it was just Youtube's Content ID messing up, as it often does.