It depends on what you disputed. A Content ID dispute, an appeal, and a DMCA counter-notification are not three names for the same thing. They are different stages with different consequences. Before pressing anything labeled Dispute, Appeal, or Counter Notification, identify which process you are entering. A Content ID Claim Is Not Necessarily a Copyright […]
Can I Use Gameplay Footage in a YouTube Video?
Sometimes—but owning the game does not automatically give you the right to publish everything the game displays or plays. Gameplay videos can involve copyright in the game’s artwork, animation, dialogue, music, characters, cinematics, and other audiovisual material. Your controller may determine what happens on the screen, but that does not erase the rights in the […]
Are Reaction Videos Fair Use?
Sometimes. But calling a video a “reaction” does not automatically make it fair use. Reaction is a format—not a legal category. The question is what the new video actually does with the original work. Does it use selected material to criticize, analyze, explain, disagree, parody, or otherwise say something new? Or does it let viewers […]
Can I Use Copyrighted Music If I Credit the Artist?
No. Naming the artist does not give you permission to use the artist’s music. Credit answers one question: Who created this? Permission answers another: May I use it this way? Those are not the same question. Credit Is Not a License Writing “music by,” linking to the artist’s account, or adding “I do not own […]
Is There a 10-Second Copyright Rule?
No. There is no magic number of seconds at which using someone else’s work suddenly becomes acceptable. Eight seconds. Ten seconds. Fifteen seconds. It doesn’t matter. Fair use is not really about the length of the clip. It is about why you used it. Are you using someone else’s work because it is necessary to […]
The Advertiser Gave Us an AI Commercial… Isn’t That Enough?
Synthetic audio can turn one advertising clearance problem into two: copyright infringement and unauthorized commercial use of a recognizable identity.
The Most Valuable Commodity AI Can’t Generate
Artificial intelligence is multiplying creative output. Authenticity, experience, judgment, and audience trust are what make a creator’s work valuable.
The Advertiser Gave It to Me. Isn’t That Enough?
When advertisers supply ready-made or AI-generated commercials, broadcasters and creators still need to verify copyright permissions and commercial-use rights.
When Your Voice Becomes the Product
For years, Harrison Legal Group has informed media creators about the legal risks of using copyrighted clips, songs, images, and broadcasts without permission. The issue became central enough to inspire my book, Playing the Clip: The Definitive Digital Media Creator’s Guide to Fair Use (TALKERS Books, 2026). The premise was straightforward: modern media runs on […]
Creators, Commentators, or Publishers: Liability Remains the Same
The rise of independent, talk show-style political commentary on YouTube has created a new class of media actors who do not see themselves as broadcasters, journalists, or publishers. They see themselves as creators. That distinction is real in terms of identity, tone, and platform. It is not real where it matters most: liability. The difference […]