Use copyrighted images in your thumbnail?

Hanne Verleysen

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Hi everyone!

For a new video I wanted to make a thumbnail with a few covers from different music albums (a bit like this thumbnail from Elise Ecklund)
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Now I was wondering, is it possible to get a copyright strike for this? Or do thumbnails not count?
 

Hanne Verleysen

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Yes you can get a copyright strike for that. YouTube recently updated its guidelines so that even thumbnails are strike-liable. Don't do what you've planned; or not only might you get a strike, but be demonetized if your channel is already a partner channel.
Well then I guess I will have to look for a different idea for my thumbnail...
Thanks for the advice!! Much appreciated :)
 

markkaz

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Creators in the kids/family/toys genre use toy company trademarked images A LOT! Most companies let it go considering they are getting free promotion.

I rarely use them for the same reason. They are already getting enough free promotion from me, I don't need to give them even more by putting their copyrighted/trademarked images/logos in the thumbnail.

How that is different for you is that artists are more protective of their work.
 

Crown

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Thumbnails can definitely get copyright strikes. I know this because I have filed copyright strikes against channels who have used my thumbnails on their videos and I won the claims every time. It comes down to your tolerance for risk I suppose. If you don't want to take any risks, then don't do it. :)