\u201cWe are concerned that copyright holders with smaller catalogs of works cannot utilize Content ID, making it more difficult or impossible for them to effectively protect their copyrighted works.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div> Eight members of Congress have sent a letter<\/a> to Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai requesting that the company participate in \u201ca roundtable with Congressional offices and members of the creative community\u201d to discuss its responses to a series of questions relating to Google-owned YouTube\u2019s Content ID tool<\/a>. The tool is meant to prevent copyright infringing material from appearing on YouTube but has come under scrutiny for its failings in recent years.<\/p>\n During a hearing in July of this year<\/a>, for example, Representative Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) told Adam Cohen, Director of Economic Policy at Google, that she has heard concerns about copyright theft on YouTube and asked whether YouTube really has any incentive to combat widespread copyright theft. She said that pirated versions of YouTube-created content don\u2019t show up in search results, while pirated versions of other shows seem to proliferate. Cohen denied any evidence of such a discrepancy and pointed to the Content ID tool as evidence of the internet giant\u2019s good faith efforts to help curb infringement.<\/p>\n In the letter sent September 3, the Congress members\u2014who included Senate IP Subcommittee Chair Thom Tillis (R-NC); Senators Chris Coons (D-DE); Marsha Blackburn (R-TN); Dianne Feinstein (D-CA); House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY); and Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA); Doug Collins (R-GA); and Martha Roby (R-AL)\u2014questioned whether the tool was effective for all users. \u201cWe have heard from copyright holders who have been denied access to Content ID tools, and as a result, are at a significant disadvantage to prevent the repeated uploading of content that they have previously identified as infringing,\u201d said the letter. \u201cThey are left with the choice of spending hours each week seeking out and sending notices about the same copyrighted works, or allowing their intellectual property to be misappropriated.\u201d<\/p>\n In the six questions posed, the Congress members focused on how the Content ID tool works and whether Google has any plans to expand or improve access to \u00a0more rights holders in the future.<\/p>\n The Content ID tool is only available to users who meet certain criteria. Specifically:<\/p>\n YouTube only grants Content ID to copyright owners who meet\u00a0specific criteria<\/a>. To be approved, you must own exclusive rights to a substantial body of original material that is frequently uploaded by the YouTube user community.<\/p>\n YouTube also sets\u00a0explicit guidelines<\/a>\u00a0on how to use Content ID. We monitor Content ID use and disputes on an ongoing basis to ensure these guidelines are followed. (https:\/\/support.google.com\/youtube\/answer\/3244015?hl=en<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"https:\/\/depositphotos.com\/195564062\/stock-photo-youtube-logo-on-the-wall.html\"](\"https:\/\/ipwatchdog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Depositphotos_195564062_xl-2015-1024x576.jpg\")
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