Use the Copyright Match Tool

The Copyright Match Tool can automatically identify videos that are matches or potential matches of other videos on YouTube. This article describes how to review and act on matches. Learn more about  how the Copyright Match Tool works .

How to use the Copyright Match Tool

Review and act on matches

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio .
2. From the left menu, select Copyright .
3. Click the Matchestab.
4. Review the matching videos. You can select a filter to find videos by number of views ( Total views) or channels by number of subscribers ( Subscribers).
5. Check the box next to the video you want to take action on. Choose an action to take:
   • ARCHIVE: This option removes the match from your Matchestab. The matching video itself isn't deleted or affected. Archived matches show up in your Archivetab.
   • REQUEST REMOVAL: This option opens our removal request webform so you can submit a removal request for the matching video. After submitting, you can track your removal requests in your Removal Requeststab.
   • CONTACT CHANNEL: This option lets you send a pre-written email to the uploader of the matching video. You can find past emails you’ve sent in your Messagestab.

Review and act on potential matches

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio .
2. From the left menu, select Copyright .
3. Click the Removal Requeststab.
4. In the Find matchescolumn, you can find potential matches that weren’t eligible to be automatically prevented from reupload because they weren’t copies.
5. Click a row. The row expands to show more details about the video.
6. Click VIEW MATCHES. The Matchestab opens and is filtered to show the potential matches.
7. Check the box next to the video you want to take action on. Choose an action to take:
   • ARCHIVE: This option removes the match from your Matchestab. The matching video itself isn't deleted or affected. Archived matches show up in your Archivetab.
   • REQUEST REMOVAL: This option opens our removal request webform so you can submit a removal request for the matching video. After submitting, you can view the videos you requested the removal of in your Removal Requeststab.
   • CONTACT CHANNEL: This option lets you send a pre-written email to the uploader of the matching video. You can find past emails you’ve sent in your Messagestab.

Find song matches

If you use the copyright removal request webform to successfully remove someone's video that used your song or audio content, the Copyright Match Tool will surface other videos with audio that could potentially match your song or audio content. The Copyright Match Tool can also find reuploads where the audio may be replaced or dubbed.

If someone used a portion of your song or audio content in their video, it won't be surfaced by the Copyright Match Tool. If you find a video that uses your audio without permission, you can always report it using our copyright removal request webform .

Troubleshoot issues with matches

There are a few reasons why we might not scan for matches to one of your uploads:

• You weren’t the first to upload the video to YouTube
• The video is already protected by Content ID
• The video has a Content ID claim on it