Occasionally I see posts from this subreddit regarding people being demonetized. Demonetization is a serious issue, however a surprisingly high amount of the time the complaints are from compilation channels.Yes, they are being targeted by Youtube, and honestly that's how it should be.Before you get out your pitchforks: monetization is intended for original content. If you are not creating original content, monetization was not intended to be for you, likely even in the first place. If you are doing something that 50 other channels are doing, using the exact same, mostly unedited content, you aren't offering anything new. It doesn't matter whether or not you have permission for the content, doesn't matter how long you spend "compiling" clips. And just because another channel has been able to get away with it doesn't mean that that's intentional.I remember one early case when the waves of demonetization started last year, some channel bought a license for Epidemic sounds, and then posted all the music that ES created to youtube, and then complained when they lost monetization. Even though they had a license to the music, I doubt that was the intended use of the content from ES, so I didn't really have any sympathy when they lost monetization.It's important to note that while there may be overlap between Content ID matters and demonetization, they are not the same issue. Content ID problems come from the system identifying matches in the CID system, and sometimes it identifies something that would be fair use, is misidentified, or is wrongfully in the system due to abuse. That is a very serious issue. Content ID can affect original content if you're using something even briefly or transformatively. (At the same time, as someone who has been able to use the Content ID system as an animator, it's been a wonderful countermeasure to other channels y'know like compilation channels reuploading my work when used responsibly.) CID affects individual videos, and having some ID'd content won't compromise your channel as a whole.Demonetization for duplication comes from your videos being very similar or identical to other content out there. This often can come from simply reuploading other peoples' content, and can occur regardless if something is in the CID system. This is more of a problem when your content actually isn't a duplication of others' works, or is the original. For obvious reasons compilation channels cannot make this defense. Demonetization affects an entire channel and is only occurs if your channel assumedly is dedicated to duplication.Compilation channels getting demonetized is the system working as normal, and personally I've got no issue with that, (especially since I've previously had my videos hijacked and put into compilations in the past).Also, on fair use: to be blunt, a vast majority of people on this subreddit and youtube as a whole don't know what fair use is. Fair use is not a stable defense or a guaranteed thing. Fair use is a defense you make if you actually go to court over a copyright dispute, and you argue that your use is transformative enough. Rulings on it wind up often setting precedents. Fair use matters when it comes to using others' content to make a point in your own--simply using others' content by itself is by no means remotely close to what fair use is.Many cases that people argue are fair use that wind up being permitted are instead just the copyright holder doesn't mind the content, so they allow it--which a copyright holder can do of their own volition. (Let's plays for instance very well might not be fair use and this is frequently up for debate, but most publishers / developers actually don't care or encourage it, so it's rarely an issue. Many permit it because they recognize it's profitable for them as advertising.)The real problem with all this, these channels have honestly been muddying this issue for actual content creators who do make original content yet still wind up being demonetized. People like Ukinojoe or Gigguk getting demonetized is a big deal, because they actually do reviews, parodies, etc., or even in Joe's case, predominately original animation. Or, people getting demonetized because reuploaders (often COMPILATION CHANNELS) are reuploading their work, which is 100% fucked up. To even think that a "Fortnite Funny Moments" clip channel would even be on the same level as someone who actually makes something new is obnoxious and only makes it harder for the voices of actual creators to be heard.tl;dr: I don't know why compilation channels don't think they're exempt from the "duplication" clause when it comes to demonetization, but they only make the issue of demonetization more complicated for legit creators. Hopefully this also explains why certain channels get demonetized. via /r/youtube
