How we protect content
The internet has created huge opportunities for creators, their communities and the content industry. The scale and speed of the web allows people to watch and share more music, movies, sports and entertainment than ever before. But, just as the internet has evolved, so has online piracy.
Google takes piracy very seriously. We continuously develop programs, policies and technology to fight online piracy. Here is what we do to protect copyrighted content.
Give rightsholders the tools they need
We work with industry leaders in three key areas to set the standard on how tech companies can help content creators and owners.
In Search
Rightsholders can submit copyright infringement claims using our webforms. When we get a large number of valid notices for a site, our Search ranking algorithms demote that site. On average, 500 sites are demoted each week. Additionally, over 3 billion URLs that infringed copyright have been completely removed from Search.
How are sites demoted?
Google Search combines hundreds of different signals to determine which results rise to the top and which do not. Copyright removal notices help us create a copyright demotion signal. If we receive a large number of valid removal notices for a site, it is downgraded in Search results.
On YouTube
We’ve invested over $100 million in Content ID, our groundbreaking tool for rights management. Content ID compares uploaded content against a huge database of copyrighted material. If a match is found, rightsholders can choose to track, monetize or remove copies of their work. This gives owners control over their content and helps create a whole new revenue stream.
What is Content ID?
Content ID is a system that allows copyright owners who meet specific criteria to easily identify and manage their content on YouTube. Owners submit files of their copyrighted work to YouTube and uploaded videos are scanned against that database. Copyright owners get to decide what happens when content matches a work that they own.
In Google Play
Our policies prohibit apps that infringe copyright, encourage illegal streaming or attempt to deceive users by impersonating other apps. Creators and rightsholders can also notify us about content on Play that infringes on their rights. This combination makes a big difference. In 2017, more than 14,000 items were removed from the Play Store through the notice-and-takedown process.
Make piracy unprofitable
We help demonetize stolen content by cutting off advertising revenue. We’ve removed over 91,000 domains from our advertising network for abusing copyrighted material. Most were caught by our proactive screening process before they made money off a single ad.
Improve access and opportunity
Pirated content is a lot less appealing when legitimate options are easy to find. That’s why we constantly improve Search so users can quickly discover and access authentic sources of content, such as legal streaming options and local cinema times.
We also empower content creators and rightsholders via YouTube and the Play Store to distribute and monetise their work to over 1.5 billion users globally.
Boost our defenses
We collaborate with rightsholders and industry associations to increase security and prevent pirates from streaming content through Google Drive. Data from external partners is crucial to this process and we continue to listen to their needs and findings. A new, full-time engineering team has also been created to tackle Drive abuse and as a result of these measures, problematic streaming has dropped significantly.
Empower creators and rightsholders
We’re committed to helping content creators and creative industries thrive online. Rightsholders are generating more revenue than ever before, with the help of Google products.
Earned each year since 2014 by developers on
Google Play
Paid to the music industry to date on
YouTube
Made by rightsholders in the last 5 years via
Content ID
Protecting content together
Billions of people use Google’s tools everyday to access, read, watch and create content they love. We are doing more than ever to fight online piracy, but there’s still more to be done. Find out why we believe that partnering with creators and rightsholders is one of the most effective ways to make sure we protect the content we all love.
Tools and resources
Rightsholders and content creators work hard to provide their fans with high quality content. And at Google we provide a wide range of resources to help them protect their copyrighted work. Together we will protect content and fight piracy.