# Could anyone enlighten me on YouTube copyright laws.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-anyone-enlighten-me-on-youtube-copyright-laws/742292
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [January 6, 2016, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-anyone-enlighten-me-on-youtube-copyright-laws/742292 "2016-01-06T04:15:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2016, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-anyone-enlighten-me-on-youtube-copyright-laws/742292/1 "2016-01-06T04:15:41Z")
Now I am a Vlogger. I have suggested [banning motorcycles](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oI33EF5c04) and described my interest in [creative writing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klvF_fHomBY).
Can anyone tell me how I can use/document articles and pictures in my videos? Like if I want to describe life in 2060, and find a picture of a futuristic city online, how should I document it?
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### Author:  [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2016, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-anyone-enlighten-me-on-youtube-copyright-laws/742292/2 "2016-01-06T05:17:31Z")
Aren’t there any vloggers here?
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2016, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-anyone-enlighten-me-on-youtube-copyright-laws/742292/3 "2016-01-06T06:52:37Z")
Try [Archive.org](http://Archive.org) - they have a collection of public domain ‘futurist’ films and images made in the 1950s or so. If you can be certain that your source material is public domain, you can just use it.
Or just do a google search for ‘futuristic city’ and see if you can find one on a stock photo site such as shutterstock - then pay for it, and insert it into your video, ensuring that you comply with the terms and conditions of the content creator/vendor, and those of Youtube, which are [here](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2797466?hl=en)
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### Author:  [@Carryon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carryon)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-anyone-enlighten-me-on-youtube-copyright-laws/742292/4 "2016-01-06T16:21:30Z")
Also remember YouTube “rules” are not the same as copyright laws. So even having public domain pictures in your videos can get them pulled if you’re not following YouTube’s rules.
And it can take sometime to get your videos put back if they are pulled erroneously. I know of one person who had his videos off line for a year before YouTube agreed they were pulled erroneously.
It’s not too big a deal if they are just videos but if you are making money off them, being gone a year is a big deal, plus it’s a strike against you.
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### Author:  [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2016, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-anyone-enlighten-me-on-youtube-copyright-laws/742292/5 "2016-01-06T17:15:34Z")
> [@Mangetout](#):
>
> Try [Archive.org](http://Archive.org) - they have a collection of public domain ‘futurist’ films and images made in the 1950s or so. If you can be certain that your source material is public domain, you can just use it.
Thanks – will search public domain.
> [@Mangetout](#):
>
> Or just do a google search for ‘futuristic city’ and see if you can find one on a stock photo site such as shutterstock - then pay for it, and insert it into your video, ensuring that you comply with the terms and conditions of the content creator/vendor, and those of Youtube,
Thanks – bookmarked.
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### Author:  [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2016, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-anyone-enlighten-me-on-youtube-copyright-laws/742292/6 "2016-01-06T17:17:49Z")
> [@Carryon](#):
>
> Also remember YouTube “rules” are not the same as copyright laws. So even having public domain pictures in your videos can get them pulled if you’re not following YouTube’s rules.
Definitely. Also, nothing erotic will be in my videos.
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### Author:  [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2016, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-anyone-enlighten-me-on-youtube-copyright-laws/742292/7 "2016-01-06T17:41:45Z")
> [@Mangetout](#):
>
> Try [Archive.org](http://Archive.org) - they have a collection of public domain ‘futurist’ films and images made in the 1950s or so. If you can be certain that your source material is public domain, you can just use it.
>
> Or just do a google search for ‘futuristic city’ and see if you can find one on a stock photo site such as shutterstock - then pay for it, and insert it into your video, ensuring that you comply with the terms and conditions of the content creator/vendor, and those of Youtube, which are [here](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2797466?hl=en)
Also, if you do a Google image search, you can click on “Search Tools” and filter your search based on usage rights.
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### Author:  [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2016, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-anyone-enlighten-me-on-youtube-copyright-laws/742292/8 "2016-01-06T18:38:56Z")
> [@voltaire](#):
>
> Also, if you do a Google image search, you can click on “Search Tools” and filter your search based on usage rights.
Tanks.
Image Search –\> Search Tools –\> Labelled for reuse with modification.
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### Author:  [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-anyone-enlighten-me-on-youtube-copyright-laws/742292/9 "2016-01-06T20:20:52Z")
> [@CCitizen](#):
>
> Definitely. Also, nothing erotic will be in my videos.
There goes the chance to finally wipe out masturbation. ☹
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### Author:  [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-anyone-enlighten-me-on-youtube-copyright-laws/742292/10 "2016-01-06T20:25:30Z")
You can use [Creative Commons Search](https://search.creativecommons.org/) to find openly-licensed stock images on Flickr, Google Images, etc. It’s not public domain, but they generally have free-to-use licenses for non-commercial purposes.
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### Author:  [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2016, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-anyone-enlighten-me-on-youtube-copyright-laws/742292/11 "2016-01-06T20:40:28Z")
> [@madsircool](#):
>
> There goes the chance to finally wipe out masturbation. ☹
I would never post a picture of my 155kg 45 year old male self.
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### Author:  [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2016, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-anyone-enlighten-me-on-youtube-copyright-laws/742292/12 "2016-01-06T20:42:17Z")
> [@friedo](#):
>
> You can use [Creative Commons Search](https://search.creativecommons.org/) to find openly-licensed stock images on Flickr, Google Images, etc. It’s not public domain, but they generally have free-to-use licenses for non-commercial purposes.
Thanks a lot! Bookmarked.