Copyright Strikes
Oh dear… If you’re reading this you’ve probably received a copyright infringement notice from my SVG team. They will have tried to email you but if no email address is displayed that’s obviously not possible.
The Team are very good at identifying unlicensed copies of my images (those illegally shared by unlicensed third parties). They only submit takedown notices if they are absolutely sure a copyright infringement has taken place.
Many channel owners employ cheap freelancers, such as those found on sites like Fiverr, to create their videos. These animators have a reputation for using unlicensed images as their prices cannot cover the cost of image fees.
A channel owner is responsible for all copyright infringements committed on their behalf.
If you are reading this because you are using unlicensed images I strongly advise you to stop because, one day, your videos will come to my team’s attention and it will be too late to update every video you have created.
If you use unlicensed images I don’t get paid. Think of it like a restaurant owner not paying for ingredients or a cab driver not paying for the fuel in his cab. Both earn an income from their work but do not pay those that make that income possible. That’s theft!
So, if you have been using unlicensed copies of my images and wish to avoid copyright strikes against your videos you must do one of the following within 24 hours:
Pay a penalty fee of £8* per image per channel to cover the use of unlicensed images to date*. Please email the SVG Team if you would like to pay this way.
Swop all unlicensed images in your videos for the licensed versions available through Videoscribe.
Delete all videos containing unlicensed images and delete all unlicensed image files.
Pay a £400 penalty fee per channel to cover the use of unlicensed images to date*. This means existing videos do not need to be deleted. Click the button below to pay the penalty fee.
*The date is set at the time YouTube remove videos or you received an email from the SVG Team. Videos created prior to strikes but scheduled for a later release are not covered by the penalty fee.
If none of the above is actioned within 24 hours strikes against your videos (and your customer videos) will begin. This includes videos on YouTube, Fiverr, Upwork, Websites, Social Media Platforms etc.
It is not possible to purchase image rights to unlicensed images for use in future videos.
We are happy to check a new video to make sure it doesn’t contain any unlicensed images. Post an ‘unlisted’ video to your channel, send us a link and we will take a look at it. This service is not available to those that choose a non-payment option.
Once payment has been received, copyright strikes will be withdrawn.
Please note: Fees do not purchase an image licence nor do they cover the use of unlicensed images in future videos. Fees do not cover videos on other channels etc. They simply mean your current videos in your one YouTube channel/gig/website/social media etc will not be hit with copyright strikes. Videos that contain unlicensed images in the future will be hit with copyright strikes regardless of whether penalty fees have been paid.
What are UNLICENSED images?
Unlicensed images are files being used without usage rights being purchased from me or those that are not available within the Videoscribe platform.
Unlicensed images are often sourced from a third party. These scammers take your money but don’t tell you that you can’t use my images. Third parties cannot grant image usage rights.
Unlicensed images are often colour versions of my black & white Videoscribe images.
Unlicensed images are not covered by Videoscribe’s Licence. Videoscribe’s Licence only covers images that are available as part of the Videoscribe subscription. Images must appear exactly as they do on the platform ie. black & white images must remain black & white.
It isn’t possible to download and edit my Videoscribe images so black & white images that have had colour added will be unlicensed and may not be used.
Unlicensed images are copyright infringement.
Some Unlicensed images are redrawn copies of my work…
Some Unlicensed images do not draw correctly in whiteboard animation software...
Some Unlicensed images show traces of my watermark…
Some Unlicensed images are copies of my images drawn in an artist’s ‘own’ style…
Ai trained versions of my images/image style are unlicensed and copyright infringement.
So, what are LICENSED images?
Licensed images are legitimate images. They are ONLY purchased from me, Piers Baker, at this website or those available on Videoscribe. My black & white Videoscribe images must be used in their original, black & white form only (see below).
My new colour-changing images can be used as they are or when colour changed within Videoscribe. These images have RGB sliders in the top left corner of thumbnails (see below).
I strongly advise you not to ignore copyright infringement notices from my SVG Team. Many do. All regret it. Takedown notices can seriously impact the reputation and revenue of a business. Gigs can be removed. Three or more YouTube strikes will result in the removal of a channel under YouTube’s 3-strikes rule. Strikes against customer videos can be incredibly damaging, embarrassing and expensive.
Animators have a responsibility to check the copyright status of all images that they use.
Ignorance is not an excuse.
