Why did Youtube block my video?

QI tried to upload a fun video to Youtube of someone dressed as Spider-man dancing to the track Uptown Funk (a number-one single for Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars in 2014, pictured right) at my granddaughter’s fourth-birthday party. The video lasts four minutes, it isn’t great quality and I wasn’t planning to make money from it. But after I’d uploaded it, Youtube sent a message saying it had been removed for copyright violation. I’ve seen a similar video to mine on Youtube, so can you tell me the rule concerning this? James Thompson

AWe understand James’s frustration. After all, how likely is it that Uptown Funk’s copyright holders would object to a video of the song being played at a little girl’s birthday? But with so many copyright holders willing to sue, perhaps Youtube is right to be overcautious. It uses a system called Content ID ( www.snipca.com/21737) to let copyright owners identify their content on the site.

To persuade Youtube to change its mind, James needs to get permission from the copyright holder of Uptown Funk. The video’s quality is irrelevant, and it doesn’t matter that James isn’t planning to make money from it.

Ththere may be goodd reasons why Youtube hasn’t blocked the similar video James mentions. It may be a parody and therefore not restricted by copyright. Or perhaps the owner received permission from the copyright holder by promising to pass on any money they make from adverts on the video.

However, there are many unofficial videos on Youtube that use Uptown Funk, so we’ve suggested to James that he appeals the decision. Google, which owns Youtube, lets people do this at www.snipca.com/21736. It has also created an ‘Audio Library’ of music and sound effects you’re allowed to use at www.youtube. com/audiolibrary/music.

Incidentally, the official video for the song has been watched a staggering 1.8 billion (yes, billion) times on Youtube. See it for yourself at www. snipca.com/21738.