Google Claims $2 Billion in YouTube-Related Payments to Copyright Owners

Google-owned YouTube has paid out more than $2 billion to content owners who since 2007 claimed copyright violations via the website's Content ID software, Google said Wednesday in a report on its anti-piracy actions. Content owners can use Content ID both to claim copyright infringement and seek monetary compensation for claimed content. Google's report came amid an ongoing campaign led by Azoff MSG Entertainment CEO Irving Azoff seeking a revamp the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to rein in Google and others (see 1606200047). "The music industry chooses to monetize more than 95% of their claims, opting to leave the content up on the platform -- half of the music industry's YouTube revenue comes from fan content claimed via Content ID,” said Google lawyer Katie Oyama in a blog post. “Thanks to Content ID, YouTube is also the only platform that gives partners an automated way to directly monetize background/incidental use and covers.”