A few months ago, I hired a video editor to help me create content for my YouTube channel. Over time, he made about 20 videos for me. My input was the voiceovers and scripts, while his job was simply to turn them into polished videos.
However, two weeks ago, I decided to stop working with him. I found someone else who offered a more affordable service and delivered better quality. It seemed like a simple decision at the time.
But earlier today, I received an unexpected blow. My channel got hit with copyright strikes for four of the videos created by my former editor. These were some of the most successful videos on my channel, and I was shocked to find that they had been claimed by another YouTube channel. Upon closer inspection, I realized that the videos were identical to mine, down to the last detail. The only difference? The upload dates on that other channel were one day earlier than mine.
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After digging deeper, I discovered what had happened. Before sending me the final files, the editor had uploaded those videos to his own channel. As a result, YouTube flagged them as his original content. To make matters worse, my channel was removed from the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), cutting off my revenue stream.
This experience has been an eye-opener. If you’re working with freelancers or video editors, always ensure you have clear contracts in place that define ownership of the content. Demand all project files immediately after completion, and double-check that your content hasn’t been uploaded elsewhere.
To fellow YouTubers: learn from my mistake. Protect your hard work. Always prioritize building a team you can trust, and don’t shy away from taking the necessary steps to secure your rights to your content.
Have you experienced something similar? Let’s share stories and solutions in the comments to prevent this from happening to anyone else. Together, we can grow stronger as creators.