When an agreement between YouTube and Warner Music Group that allowed YouTube users to include WMG's content in their videos fell through, YouTube lost access to WMG's music library. In response, YouTube muted all videos containing WMG content. Although YouTube and WMG reached an agreement to again allow YouTube users to use small excerpts of WMG's content in videos, many videos remain muted as of the time of publication. Besides using only original or royalty-free content in videos that you upload, you have two other options to get past WMG's block: filing a copyright dispute with YouTube and swapping WMG's content using YouTube's AudioSwap tool.
File a Copyright Dispute
Video of the Day
Step 1
Click your username at the top of the YouTube website to open the My Account drop-down menu.
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Step 2
Click the Videos link to display your uploaded videos.
Step 3
Open the video that contains WMG content by clicking its title.
Step 4
Locate the WMG copyright notice below the video and click the "Resolve Copyright Issue" link.
Step 5
Wait for the Copyright Info screen to appear; then click the "I want to learn more about this dispute process" link.
Step 6
Scroll to the bottom of the Dispute Process screen, and click the "Take me to the dispute form" link.
Step 7
Click the radio button next to option 2 and paste the following text in to the box next to it:
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
Step 8
Enter your full name and any other personal information requested; then click the Continue button.
Step 9
Check the Confirmation screen for errors; then click the Submit Dispute button.
Use AudioSwap Tool
Step 1
Click your username at the top of the YouTube website to open the My Account drop-down menu.
Step 2
Click the Videos link to display your uploaded videos.
Step 3
Click the AudioSwap button below the video that contains WMG content.
Step 4
Browse YouTube's library of royalty-free music.
Step 5
Click the title of the song you want to use; then click the Preview button to view your video with the new song.
Step 6
Click the Publish button to swap the WMG content with the AudioSwap song.