Updated
Guide · YouTube copyright
Is this song copyrighted? How to check first.
Almost every song is. The question that matters is whether you have permission, and you can find that out before a claim finds you.
Assume every song is copyrighted: protection starts the moment it's recorded. To check whether you can use it, look for a licence from where you got it, see if it's on streaming services, upload privately to see YouTube's Checks, and score the risk with Aswati's free YouTube copyright checker.
Start from the right assumption
Copyright exists the moment a song is recorded. Nobody has to register it. So the real question is never "is this song copyrighted?" but "do I have permission to use this recording?" A song can be free to listen to on YouTube, free to download from a website and still not free to put in your video.
There are two layers of rights in any track: the composition (the melody and lyrics) and the recording. A nasheed written in the 1400s has no composition owner any more, but a recording of it made last year does.
Five ways to check a song before you upload
- Find the licence. Where did the file come from? A library you pay or sign up to will show the licence for each track. If you can't find one, you don't have one.
- Check streaming services. If the song is on Spotify or Apple Music, its distributor has very likely registered it with Content ID.
- Use YouTube's Checks. Upload the video as private or unlisted and wait for the Checks step in YouTube Studio. It will show a copyright claim before anyone sees the video.
- Score the risk. Answer six questions in our free YouTube copyright checker to see how likely a claim is and what to do instead.
- Ask the owner. For a specific song, written permission from the artist or label is the only real clearance. Keep the email.
What the result means
| What you find | What happens on YouTube | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A licence that covers your use | Nothing, or a claim you can clear with the licence | Keep the licence on file |
| The song is on streaming services, no licence | A Content ID claim, likely on day one | Replace the audio |
| A "no copyright" upload by a stranger | Possibly a claim later | Treat it as unlicensed |
| Your own recording | Nothing | Upload freely |
If you're already claimed, read how to avoid copyright on YouTube for the fixes, and YouTube copyright strikes if a video was taken down.
Myths that don't protect you
- "I only used 5 seconds." Content ID matches clips shorter than that.
- "I sped it up / slowed it down / added reverb." Pitched and slowed versions are still matched. Our slowed and reverb tool is for audio you own.
- "I credited the artist." Credit is not permission.
- "I'm not monetised." Claims and takedowns apply to every channel.
- "It's a nasheed, so it's free." Nasheeds are recordings like any other; famous ones are often claimed.
Skip the check: start from audio you're licensed to use
The simplest way to avoid ever asking this question is to build your videos from a library that owns its recordings. Aswati records every track in-house, so there's no third-party claim waiting. Start with the eight free tracks at aswati.co/vocals, or browse no-copyright nasheeds and Islamic background music.
From Aswati
Music you never have to check
Aswati Studio holds 150+ voice-only tracks, royalty-free for monetised YouTube, reels, podcasts and client work, with a licence certificate for every download. Creator is $9 a month; the Production Pass ($19 a month) adds unlimited downloads and stems.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a song is copyrighted?
Assume it is. Almost every song is protected the moment it's recorded. The useful question is whether you have permission: check the licence where you got it, upload it as an unlisted video to see if YouTube's Checks flag it, and run it through a risk checker before publishing.
Is there a free tool to check if a song is copyrighted?
YouTube's own Checks step, which runs when you upload, is the only tool that sees the Content ID database. Aswati's free YouTube copyright checker scores the risk before you upload based on where the audio came from, how long you use it and how it's licensed.
If I use only 10 seconds of a song, is it okay?
No. There is no safe number of seconds. Content ID matches clips of a few seconds, including sped-up, slowed and pitched versions.
Does crediting the artist avoid copyright?
No. Writing "no copyright intended" or crediting the artist doesn't give you a licence. Only permission from the owner, or a licence from a library that owns the track, does.
Which songs are safe to use on YouTube?
Your own recordings, the YouTube Audio Library within its terms, and tracks from a royalty-free library that gives you a licence. Aswati's voice-only tracks are royalty-free for monetised videos with no attribution.
Copyright-safe