How To Prevent Copyright Infringement

**CriticalDetails** · 07-23-2013, 11:24 AM

My headlight restoration detailing video has been copied and uploaded onto two different spam YouTube channels. I chose not to link the YouTube channels illegally hosting my video because I don't want to give them anymore views than they already have. I am almost finished the copyright verification process necessary to have the first video removed and now the second video was uploaded less than 24 hours ago. I know it isn't the end of the world having your content stolen but it's certainly frustrating and time consuming.

Has anyone else had their YouTube detailing videos stolen before? Is there anyway to prevent copyright infringement in the future or is this something that we all need to be diligent about monitoring?

**mavin** · 07-23-2013, 11:56 AM

File a DMCA takedown through youtube.

**Audios S6** · 07-23-2013, 12:12 PM

I've never had a video stolen, but I can understand your frustration. I would state the name of your company several times throughout your videos and watermark them. The videos can be clipped easily enough so just stating your name at the beginning is worthless. Sound can be removed too, so wear your company shirt, have a company banner in the background, shoot the video in front of your building; do whatever you can to identify youself that won't look out of place in a video. That should be a good deterent, and if not, consider it free advertising until you have the hosting removed.

Streaming the video to a host is a little safer than just uploading. Copying & modifying it becomes more of a chore and the person will likely just opt for an easier target. Sadly, I don't think youtube has an option to stream your videos.

**CriticalDetails** · 07-23-2013, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by mavin

File a DMCA takedown through youtube.

I filed the second one earlier today. The whole process takes about a week to complete because YouTube receives so many copyright complaints.

Originally Posted by Audios S6

I've never had a video stolen, but I can understand your frustration. I would state the name of your company several times throughout your videos and watermark them. The videos can be clipped easily enough so just stating your name at the beginning is worthless. Sound can be removed too, so wear your company shirt, have a company banner in the background, shoot the video in front of your building; do whatever you can to identify youself that won't look out of place in a video. That should be a good deterent, and if not, consider it free advertising until you have the hosting removed.

Streaming the video to a host is a little safer than just uploading. Copying & modifying it becomes more of a chore and the person will likely just opt for an easier target. Sadly, I don't think youtube has an option to stream your videos.

I currently have my company name in the first and last five seconds of the video. I have thought about shrinking my logo and using it as a watermark but I wasn't sure how it would look. I suppose if I put the watermark in the bottom right corner it won't be too distracting.

I am off camera in a lot of my videos so the company shirts won't work as well for me. However I do like the banner idea of having a banner in the background. I will look into buying a Critical Details banner the next time I order from Vistaprint.

Thanks for the tips.

**Detailed Josh** · 07-23-2013, 09:06 PM

That's a shame Critical Details. I really liked that video of yours when you posted in my headlight restoration thread. Great advice on Audios S6's part. Maybe also getting a small "sign" made that you can place on the car (on top of something soft of course like a microfiber to protect the paint

) so like your headlight video it would be dead center on the hood, yet the focus is still you showing the headlight work.

**kevincwelch** · 07-23-2013, 09:34 PM

Guys like you who run small businesses and rely on your photos and videos for advertising need to have watermarks.

**AeroCleanse** · 07-23-2013, 09:58 PM

I would say forget about doing all the copyright stuff in the future and watermark your videos with your info, then think of it as free advertising.

**CriticalDetails** · 07-24-2013, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by Detailed Josh

That's a shame Critical Details. I really liked that video of yours when you posted in my headlight restoration thread. Great advice on Audios S6's part. Maybe also getting a small "sign" made that you can place on the car (on top of something soft of course like a microfiber to protect the paint

) so like your headlight video it would be dead center on the hood, yet the focus is still you showing the headlight work.

I plan to use a Critical Details watermark on future videos.

Originally Posted by kevincwelch

Guys like you who run small businesses and rely on your photos and videos for advertising need to have watermarks.

I have been lucky up until now with stolen content. I am working on making a watermark for my videos. Watermarking Instagram pictures is a hassle though and hopefully something that I don't need to do in the future.

Originally Posted by AeroCleanse

I would say forget about doing all the copyright stuff in the future and watermark your videos with your info, then think of it as free advertising.

I will definitely watermark my YouTube videos in the future to deter re-uploading. Even if someone does decide to copy my content the viewers will know who really made the video when they see my company name.

**CriticalDetails** · 07-27-2013, 12:39 PM

I have decided that watermarking my videos would be the best solution to my problem. Having a watermark in YouTube videos allows for a non-invasive full length video annotation. I set the annotation up to remind viewers to subscribe to my YouTube channel when they hover over my company name.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions on how to prevent content theft.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXSrvdHf6Ow]Interior Detailing: Hot Water Extraction and Vapor Steam Cleaning - Honda Civic SI EP3 - YouTube[/video]