Why licensed music and footage matter
Platforms like YouTube, Instagram and Facebook automatically scan videos for music and footage owned by someone else. If a match is found, the owner can claim your video, even if you only used a few seconds.
- ClaimThe owner can take the ad money, track the video or limit where it plays.
- Muted or blockedThe music can be muted, or the video blocked in some countries.
- Taken downThe owner can ask for removal, which brings a copyright strike.
- Brand riskPaid ads can be rejected, and a removed video can disappoint a client.
None of this means you should avoid music. It means using music and footage you have the right to use, and keeping proof of it.
What "copyright-free" really means: the right to use
When people say copyright-free or royalty-free, they usually mean music and footage from a library that gives you a license. The creator still owns the work. The license gives you permission to use it, and it comes with rules: which projects, which channels, and for how long.
A license answers five questions
- 1Which track or clipThe exact music or footage you downloaded.
- 2Which projectThe video it's licensed for.
- 3Which channelsWhere you're allowed to post it.
- 4WhenUsually: published while the subscription is active.
- 5ProofA license certificate you can show if asked.
The best websites for copyright-free music and stock footage
These are the libraries we trust for client work. Each one licenses its music or footage for use in videos, and each has its own rules worth knowing.
- Epidemic SoundMusicSound effectsVideos published during an active subscription stay cleared, even after it ends. Safelist your channels in your account.
- Envato ElementsMusicFootageGraphicsOne license per project, named at download. Claim Clear safelists up to 3 YouTube channels.
- ArtlistMusicSound effectsClient work needs the Pro license. Clear channels and videos with the Clearlist.
- StoryblocksFootageCheck your plan: lifetime coverage after you cancel, and more than one YouTube channel, come with the Business plan.
Who should hold the license: you or your editor?
Both can work. What matters is that someone has a valid license for your video, and that you know who it is.
How to safelist (whitelist) your channel and clear a claim
Safelisting, also called whitelisting or allowlisting, tells the music library that a channel is licensed, so its videos aren't claimed. Choose the library you use for the steps.
- Step 1Log in
Log in to your Epidemic Sound account. You need an active subscription to safelist.
- Step 2Open Safelisting
Go to your account and open the Safelisting section.
- Step 3Connect your channel
Connect your YouTube, Instagram or other channel. From now on, its videos with Epidemic Sound music are recognized as licensed.
- Step 4Client videos
If your editor uses their Epidemic Sound account, they can safelist your channel or videos from the same section, depending on their plan.
- Step 5If a claim appears
Check the subscription was active when the video was published and the channel was safelisted. Then follow Epidemic Sound's Help Center guide to disputing a claim on YouTube.
- Step 1License it for your project
When you download, click "Manage" and name the project, for example "Smith Dental clinic tour". Each project needs its own license.
- Step 2Download the certificate
Go to "My Downloads", choose "View licenses" on the item, then "Download license". Keep this file with the project.
- Step 3Safelist your channel
Use music marked "Claim Clear ready". Open your account menu, choose "Claim Clear", paste your channel (@username) and click "Add". Up to 3 channels.
- Step 4Or clear one video
After a claim appears, paste the video's link in "YouTube video URL" and click "Add". The video must be public or unlisted. Up to 30 videos a month.
- Step 5Dispute in YouTube Studio
For tracks that aren't Claim Clear ready: in YouTube Studio, open the claim, choose "Take action", then "Dispute", pick "License" and paste the full certificate into the rationale.
- Step 1Use the right license
Client work needs Artlist's Pro license. Social licenses only cover your own personal channels.
- Step 2Open the Clearlist
On your Artlist account page, open the Clearlist section.
- Step 3Add your channel or videos
Add your YouTube channel link, or the links of specific videos. Claims from Artlist are then cleared.
- Step 4Share with clients
Editors can create an invite link in the Clearlist and send it to clients, so they can add their own videos.
Menu names change from time to time. If a button looks different, the library's help center has the latest steps.
A claim is not a strike
- Found automatically by matching
- No penalty on your channel
- The owner may earn from, track or limit the video
- Fix: safelist, clear it, or dispute with your license
- Comes from a removal request
- The video is taken down
- Several strikes can put a channel at risk
- Avoid: only use licensed music and footage
If a claim appears on a video with properly licensed music, don't panic. It's usually cleared within minutes through the library, or within a few weeks through a dispute.
Your checklist before you publish
This isn't legal advice, and every library's terms can change. When in doubt, check the license page of the library you use, or ask us.
Common questions
Is copyright-free music really free to use?
Usually not completely. Most "copyright-free" or royalty-free music comes with a license from a library such as Epidemic Sound, Envato Elements or Artlist. The license gives you the right to use it under certain rules, such as which projects and channels are covered.
What is safelisting or whitelisting?
Safelisting (also called whitelisting or allowlisting) connects your channel to your music library account, so videos using its licensed music aren't claimed. Epidemic Sound and Envato Elements call it safelisting; Artlist calls it the Clearlist.
What's the difference between a copyright claim and a strike?
A claim lets the owner earn from, track or restrict a video, but it doesn't penalize your channel. A strike is more serious: it comes from a takedown request, and several strikes can put a channel at risk.
Do I need a new license for every video?
With Envato Elements, yes: each license covers one use in one project, so each new project needs its own license. Epidemic Sound and Artlist cover content published while your subscription is active.
What happens to my videos if the subscription ends?
For Epidemic Sound and Artlist, content published during an active subscription stays covered. New videos made after it ends aren't covered. Storyblocks depends on your plan, so check its license page.
