YouTube’s Partner Program (YPP) is a gateway for creators to monetize their content, but with this opportunity comes the need to adhere to strict guidelines, particularly regarding reused content. Many creators find the policies surrounding reused content unclear, leading to confusion and potential violations. This detailed guide aims to shed light on what reused content means, how it impacts monetization, and what steps creators can take to comply with YouTube’s policies.

What Does Reused Content Mean?

Reused content refers to material that is not an original creation of the uploader and lacks significant transformation or added value. YouTube defines reused content as:

• Content lacking originality: Material that already exists on YouTube or other platforms, shared without meaningful changes or enhancements.
• Minimal or no narrative: Examples include compilations or clips from movies, sports, or gameplay edited together with little commentary or context.
• Short clips from social media: Videos compiled from platforms like Instagram or TikTok without any substantive additions.
• Collections of music tracks: Even if you have permission from the artists, uploading playlists or collections without transformation falls under reused content.
• Re-uploaded material: Content that has been uploaded by multiple creators without significant alterations or commentary.
• Non-verbal reaction videos: Videos where the creator’s engagement is limited to non-verbal reactions, without voiceover or explanatory commentary.
• Downloaded or copied content: Content sourced from other websites and re-uploaded without substantial modifications.

It’s important to note that this list is not exhaustive. Reviewers analyze channels holistically to determine if the content demonstrates originality, participation, or significant production effort.

What is Allowed?

YouTube encourages creators to transform existing content into something new and meaningful. Examples of acceptable practices include:

• Adding thoughtful commentary or a unique perspective.
• Editing content to include educational or entertainment value.
• Making clear transformations that highlight a significant difference between the original and the new content.

What Happens If a Channel Posts Reused Content?

If a channel violates YouTube’s reused content policy, the consequences can include:

• Rejection or suspension from the YouTube Partner Program (YPP): This results in the loss of monetization privileges.
• Loss of revenue opportunities: Ineligibility to earn through ads, memberships, or Super Chats.

How to Appeal a Suspension

Creators who believe their content was incorrectly flagged can appeal within 21 days of suspension. The appeals process is outlined on the Earn page in YouTube Studio, and decisions are typically made within 14 days.

Reused Content and AI-Generated Material

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in content creation has raised questions about its compatibility with YouTube’s monetization policies. Here’s what creators need to know:

• AI Usage and Monetization: Using AI to generate images, scripts, voiceovers, or entire videos does not automatically disqualify a channel from monetization. However, the content must still be clearly original, transformative, and align with YouTube’s guidelines.
• Transparency with AI Content: Creators are expected to disclose when their content involves synthetic or AI-generated elements. This transparency fosters trust with viewers and helps avoid policy violations.

Best Practices to Avoid Reused Content Violations

To ensure compliance with YouTube’s reused content policies, creators should focus on originality and meaningful engagement. Here are actionable tips:

1. Transform Content Thoughtfully: Add commentary, analysis, or a creative spin to existing material.
2. Avoid Simple Compilations: Ensure that edits go beyond stitching clips together; include storytelling, educational insights, or entertainment.
3. Engage Your Audience: Add value through voiceovers, detailed explanations, or interactive elements.
4. Verify Permissions: While having permission to use someone else’s content is important, it does not exempt creators from the need to transform the material.
5. Maintain Transparency: Always disclose when AI or other tools are used in content creation.

Final Thoughts

Understanding and adhering to YouTube’s reused content policy is essential for creators aiming to monetize their work. The key takeaway is that originality, transformation, and transparency are critical. By focusing on these principles, creators can avoid potential violations, retain monetization privileges, and continue growing their channels within the YouTube Partner Program.

For further guidance, creators are encouraged to review YouTube’s official policies and resources available in YouTube Studio.

YouTube Partner Program overview & eligibility

We’re expanding the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) to more creators with earlier access to fan funding and Shopping features. The expanded YouTube Partner Program is available to eligible creators in these countries/regions. If you’re in one of these countries/regions, check out this article to learn more about the changes to YPP. 

If you’re not in one of the available countries/regions, there are no changes to the YouTube Partner Program for you. 

Check your eligibility for the expanded YouTube Partner Program. If you’re not eligible yet, select Get notified in the Earn area of YouTube Studio. We’ll send you an email once we’ve rolled the expanded YPP program to you and you’ve reached the eligibility thresholds. 
 

The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) gives creators greater access to YouTube resources and monetization features, and access to our Creator Support teams. It also allows revenue sharing from ads being served on your content. Learn more about the features, eligibility criteria, and application details in this article.

Subscribe to the YouTube Creators channel for the latest news, updates, and tips.

Want to apply to YPP, but need help building an audience first? Check out our tips to establish your fanbase, and our tips for the YouTube Partner Program.

What you need to join

1. Follow the YouTube channel monetization policies.
   1. These are a collection of policies and guidelines that allow you to monetize on YouTube, and compliance with them is required when you accept a partner agreement with YouTube.
2. Live in a country/region where the YouTube Partner Program is available.
3. Have no active Community Guidelines strikes on your channel.
4. Make sure 2-Step Verification is turned on for your Google Account.
5. Have advanced features access on YouTube.
6. Have one active AdSense for YouTube account linked to your channel, or be ready to set one up in YouTube Studio if you don’t already have one (only create a new AdSense for YouTube account in YouTube Studio – learn more).

How you can become eligible

Once you understand what you need to join, your channel can become eligible for YPP with either Shorts or long-form video. If you’d like us to notify you when you’re eligible, click Notify me when I’m eligible in the Earn area of YouTube Studio. You’ll get an email once you’ve met either of the below eligibility thresholds.

1. Get 1,000 subscribers with 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months, or
2. Get 1,000 subscribers with 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days.

Keep in mind that any public watch hours from Shorts views in the Shorts Feed won’t count towards the 4,000 public watch hours threshold.

More on eligibility thresholds

These thresholds help us make a more informed decision about whether your channel meets our policies and guidelines. Once you apply, your channel will go through a standard review process to see whether your channel meets our policies and guidelines. If it meets our policies and guidelines, we’ll accept your channel into YPP. Keep in mind we continuously check channels in YPP to make sure they continue to meet our policies and guidelines over time.

Where to apply

Once you have what you need and your channel is eligible to apply, sign up for YPP from either a desktop computer or a mobile device:

Computer 

1. Sign in to YouTube
2. In the top right, click your profile picture  YouTube Studio
3. In the left menu, click Earn
4. Select Apply Now to get started
5. Click Start to review and Accept Base terms
6. Click Start to set up an AdSense for YouTube account, or link an existing active one

Once done, you’ll see In Progress in the Get Reviewed step, which means we have your application!

On Android

1. Open the YouTube Studio app 
2. From the bottom menu, tap Earn
3. Select Apply Now to get started
4. Click Start to review and Accept Base terms
5. Click Start to set up an AdSense for YouTube account, or link an existing active one

Note: Currently only the application process is available in the YouTube Studio app. We’re working on adding more features soon such as managing ads and other monetization features. For now, go to YouTube Studio using a web browser on a phone, tablet, or computer for access to all the features.

Once done, you’ll see In Progress in the Get Reviewed step, which means we have your application!

On iPhone/iPad

1. Open the YouTube Studio app 
2. From the bottom menu, tap Earn
3. Select Apply Now to get started
4. Click Start to review and Accept Base terms
5. Click Start to set up an AdSense for YouTube account, or link an existing active one

Note: Currently only the application process is available in the YouTube Studio app. We’re working on adding more features soon such as managing ads and other monetization features. For now, go to YouTube Studio using a web browser on a phone, tablet, or computer for access to all the features.

Once done, you’ll see In Progress in the Get Reviewed step, which means we have your application!

How we review your application

Once you accept YPP terms and link an active AdSense for YouTube account, your channel will automatically be put in a review queue. Our automated systems and human reviewers will review your channel as a whole to make sure your channel follows all of our policies and guidelines. Check back in the Earn section of YouTube Studio anytime to see the status of your application.

We’ll get back to you with a decision once your channel is reviewed (typically in about 1 month). 

Keep in mind delays are possible due to higher-than-usual application volumes, system issues, or resource limitations. All YPP applications are serviced in the order they’re received by us. Sometimes channels require multiple reviews, especially when several reviewers disagree on your channel’s suitability for YPP. This may increase the time required for a decision to be made.

If your first application wasn’t successful, don’t worry – you can appeal the decision within 21 days or keep uploading original content and you’ll be able to re-apply after a 30-day period. If this isn’t your first application to be rejected, or you’ve previously re-applied, you can try again after a 90-day period. Our reviewers likely found that a significant portion of your channel doesn’t currently follow our policies and guidelines, so be sure to review those against your channel’s overall content and adjust your channel before re-applying. Learn more about steps you can take to strengthen your application for next time.

Choose how to earn and get paid

Once you’re in YPP, get started in YouTube Studio with Watch Page Ads, Shorts Feed Ads, Memberships, Supers, Shopping, and more. To turn on monetization features, you’ll need to review and accept the relevant module terms. Learn more about the modules and their options here.

After choosing how you want to monetize, you’ll be able to manage ad preferences, turn on monetization for your uploads, and more. Here’s a list of FAQs that we get from creators who have just joined YPP.

Getting paid

Visit our Help Center for an easier understanding of your earnings as a YouTube partner, learn all about AdSense for YouTube (Google’s program that lets creators in YPP get paid), and troubleshoot common payment issues.

Stay active to keep making money

As the YouTube Partner Program continues to grow, it’s important to maintain a healthy, active ecosystem of channels. To focus our support for creators who are active and engaged with the community, we may turn off monetization on channels that haven’t uploaded a video or posted to the Community tab for 6 months or more.

FAQs around applying and more

What if I don’t meet the program threshold?

What do “valid public watch hours” and “valid public Shorts views” mean?

If I meet the threshold, do I automatically get into YPP?

What happens if my counts drop below the threshold after I apply?

I’m no longer in YPP (or I was never in the program) and I’m seeing ads on my videos. Am I earning revenue from those ads?

I’m not a YouTube partner, so why am I seeing ads on my videos?

Ads may appear on your uploaded videos even if you haven’t monetized the videos yourself.

If your video contains content to which you don’t own all necessary rights, the rights holder may have chosen to place ads on it. YouTube may also place ads on videos in channels not in the YouTube Partner Program. Learn more on our blog.

Become a partner and earn revenue from advertising

The YouTube Partner Program is available in many countries/regions, allowing more creators to turn on revenue sharing from ads. To see the benefits of the program, visit the YouTube Partner Program overview page. You can also learn how to become a partner and set up your channel for monetization.

Ads are not appropriate for my videos

If you do see an ad that you believe is in violation of our ad policies, fill out this form to report the ad. You can also report the ad while it’s playing by selecting the info button in the bottom.

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Monetization is disabled for my channel

If monetization is disabled for your YouTube channel, it could be for several reasons. Any of these actions could result in suspension of payments:

• Attempting monetization of videos you don’t own. If you’re not sure if you have the right to upload the content, check the Copyright FAQ. Also make sure you know how fair use works.
• Attempting monetization of videos that don’t meet our advertiser-friendly content guidelines. We may reserve the right to disable ads on your entire channel in situations where most of your content is not suitable for any advertisers. This condition can also include where there are repeated, serious violations (for example, uploading of incendiary, demeaning, or hateful content).
• You did not accept the updated YouTube Partner Program (YPP) terms as of July 11, 2023.
• Your channel is on a non-monetizing agreement with YouTube.
• Violations of YouTube channel monetization policies, YouTube spam policies, AdSense Program Policies, YouTube Terms of Service, or AdSense for YouTube Terms of Service.

Severe violations of our YouTube channel monetization policies may result in monetization being permanently disabled on any of your accounts.

If your channel’s monetization is paused (not disabled), it means that you need to link an active and approved AdSense for YouTube account to resume. Paused monetization is different from disabled monetization – learn more about paused monetization here.

If you believe your copyright-protected work was posted on YouTube without authorization, you may submit a copyright infringement notification.

YouTube Partner Program tips

The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) gives creators greater access to YouTube resources and monetization features. It also allows revenue sharing from ads being served on your content. Before reading this article, be sure to browse the YouTube Partner Program overview and eligibility.

Subscribe to the YouTube Creators channel for the latest news, updates, and tips.

Once you’ve been accepted into YPP, what can you do next?

You now have access to a range of monetization features, so be sure to check the respective eligibility criteria before turning on these features. To start making the most of ad revenue, do the following:

• Learn about AdSense, Google’s program that lets creators in YPP get paid.
• Choose how you want to monetize, how ads show on your videos, and how to set your default ad formats.
• Review our advertiser-friendly content guidelines to make sure all your content is appropriate for ads. 
• Check out our YouTube Self-Certification overview so you can self-rate your videos according to our advertiser-friendly content guidelines. This rating helps us make monetization decisions faster and more accurately.

Once you’re set up in YPP, you can monitor your performance and revenue

• Check when you made the most money. You can check this data by changing the date range to lifetime on the Revenue tab in YouTube Analytics. Are there correlations between the highest viewed days and most ad revenue earned?
• You can identify the geography where most of your estimated revenue comes from by using expanded analytics reports. You can create videos targeting these specific geographies and add captions to help reach your viewers.
• To identify seasonal trends, compare your traffic and earnings between different months or years. For example, US advertisers spend slightly more during the year-end holiday months, November and December. When you compare different years, how do your earnings and views change during certain months?

These tips can help you identify trends and patterns in your revenue sources. View your final earnings by logging into your AdSense account.

We recommend

• To avoid getting overwhelmed, try experimenting with one feature at a time to find out how your revenue and audience is affected.
• To find more details on how revenue is shared, earned, and taxed, check out our official partner earnings overview. You can also find steps on how to view your final earnings (how much you’ll get paid) in AdSense.