Understanding Copyright Infringement | Artlist — Artlist Blog

Highlights

Copyright can seem like a daunting, serious topic, but it’s important that every creator understands it.

In this article, find out what copyright infringement is, as well as how you can avoid copyright infringement yourself.

If you’ve had your original video stolen on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, find out how you can easily report it for copyright infringement.

Table of contents

• What is copyright infringement?
• Common types of copyright infringement today
• What type of work is protected from copyright infringement?
• How do you avoid copyright infringement?
• Copyright infringement tools
• How to report copyright infringements of your content
• What happens next?
• What happens when content is flagged or reused
• Wrapping up

What is copyright infringement?

Copyright infringement happens when someone uses your work without permission. That could include reposting, copying, editing, or sharing your work publicly, even if they just happened to find it online and didn’t mean to cause any harm.

Simply, if you created a video, image, voiceover, or soundtrack and someone else publishes it as their own work, or uses it without your approval, that’s copyright infringement. Giving credit to the original creator alone isn’t enough.

This also applies when AI is used to create the work, and using AI tools doesn’t remove responsibility. If you publish the content, you’re responsible for how it was created and whether you had the right to use every part of it.

For example, if you created a short travel video using your own footage, added AI-generated other visuals, and licensed music, you post it to TikTok and move on. A few days later, a big travel account reposts your video without permission or credit. That’s copyright infringement.

There’s a very simple rule to understanding copyright: if someone uses your work without permission, or if you use someone else’s work without permission and without the right license, it’s probably copyright infringement.

Common types of copyright infringement today

Copyright issues often happen by accident, especially when AI tools are part of the workflow. These are the situations creators most often run into.

• AI visuals that closely resemble existing work, which can lead to issues if they replicate recognizable artwork without enough transformation.
• Music or voice used without clear usage rights including background music, sound effects, or AI voiceovers that aren’t approved for your use.
• Reusing prompts, templates, or AI outputs across projects without clarity on rights.
• Content flagged by platforms that can mute, demonetize, or remove content even when creators act in good faith.

What type of work is protected from copyright infringement?

Copyright protects original creative work. If you create a video, image, piece of music, or voice recording and publish it online, that work is usually protected from the moment it’s created.

CONTENT examples include:

• Videos and films.
• Photos and illustrations.
• Music and sound recordings.
• Voiceovers and spoken audio.
• Written content like scripts or articles.

The main requirement is that the work shows “a minimum” level of human creativity. Copyright protects how an idea is expressed, but not the idea itself.

Using AI tools

Using AI tools doesn’t automatically remove copyright protection, but it can affect ownership. If your input shapes the final result, it's more likely to be copyright-protected.

To summarize, copyright protects original creativity.

How do you avoid copyright infringement?

Before you post anything, check these basics:

• Know what you created yourself.
• Ensure you have permission or a license for every part of it.
• Double-check the license covers your publication method.
• Be careful when reusing AI-generated outputs.
• Maintain records of prompts, edits, and licenses.

Copyright infringement tools

There are tools that help identify copyright violation:

• YouTube content ID for automatic copyright tracking.
• Meta’s “Rights manager” for detecting copyright infringement on Instagram.
• TikTok’s scanning for copyright issues, though less transparent.

How to report copyright infringements of your content

How to report copyright infringement on TikTok

1. In the TikTok app, tap the Share button on the side of the video.
2. Tap Report.
3. Tap Intellectual property infringement.
4. Follow the instructions provided.

How to file an Instagram copyright report

• Report it through the Help Centre and fill in this form.
• Use Brand Rights Protection.
• Contact Instagram’s designated agent.

How to flag a YouTube video for copyright infringement

1. Navigate to YouTube Studio
2. Select Copyright from the left menu.
3. Click NEW REMOVAL REQUEST.

What happens next?

After submitting a report, the platform reviews the claim. If valid, the content is usually removed. The uploader may have the option to dispute the removal, which can vary by platform.

What happens when content is flagged or reused

Most copyright issues start with automated detection. Platforms scan uploads for matches, and issues can arise even with good intentions.

If flagged, don't panic. Replace the content and move on, as escalating the issue is often not worth it.

Keep a provable log of how you created something to support your case when necessary.

Wrapping up

Copyright doesn’t need to slow you down. Understand what you can publish to avoid second-guessing your uploads. Using clear licenses and tools can help prevent copyright issues.